Produção e caracterização de arcabouços híbridos de policaprolactona (PCL) e hidrogel produzidos por bioimpressora 3D

Abstract

The main goal of this work was to produce hybrid scaffolds, composed of polycaprolactone and chitosan/gelatin hydrogel using a bioprinter, aiming its application for bone regeneration and the development of the bioprinting technique. A cheaper alternative was also sought in relation to the use of modified gelatins for bone regeneration. Initially, the adjustment of the printing parameters was made, and the ability of the bioprinter to produce parts compatible with its virtual model was evaluated. The influences of speed and extrusion factor for printing hydrogels were analyzed and the best parameters for scaffolds’ printing were defined. A PCL frame was produced, with filaments of 0.3 mm in diameter and 8.3 mm in length and width, was printed at 77ºC, with an infill of 20%, at a speed of 30 mm.s-1, with an extrusion factor of 1.2 and nozzle diameter of 0.3. The hydrogel piece filled the pores and was printed at a speed of 5 mm.s-1, extrusion factor 1, temperature of 23 ºC, infill of 20% and the nozzle diameter of 0.4 mm. Under these conditions, the frameworks produced have demonstrated good printability, there was a chemical interaction between chitosan and gelatin to form the hydrogel, partial degradation of the framework after 4 weeks was detected, there is hemostatic potential in the material, it releases ions to the environment and captures fluids, and it is no toxic to the cells studied. Thus, the proposed framework may be a cheaper alternative to the use of modified gelatine as a biotint