Enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineering

The practical application of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds in bone tissue engineering necessitates further enhancements in mechanical properties, cell adhesion, cell viability, hydrophilicity, and degradation rate. Accordingly, this study investigates the effect of incorporating 1 wt...

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Main Authors: Alborz Bakhtiari, Hamid Reza Madaah Hosseini, Reza Alizadeh, Mohsen Mohammadi, Masoud Zarei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425000468
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author Alborz Bakhtiari
Hamid Reza Madaah Hosseini
Reza Alizadeh
Mohsen Mohammadi
Masoud Zarei
author_facet Alborz Bakhtiari
Hamid Reza Madaah Hosseini
Reza Alizadeh
Mohsen Mohammadi
Masoud Zarei
author_sort Alborz Bakhtiari
collection DOAJ
description The practical application of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds in bone tissue engineering necessitates further enhancements in mechanical properties, cell adhesion, cell viability, hydrophilicity, and degradation rate. Accordingly, this study investigates the effect of incorporating 1 wt% of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets on different properties of PLA scaffolds fabricated via fused deposition modeling. Results obtained from differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the crystallinity increased moderately from 1.90 to 2.70% with the addition of g-C3N4. Also, incorporating g-C3N4 into the PLA matrix significantly reduced the water contact angle of pure PLA from 82.54° to 54.65°, reflecting a transition from a hydrophobic to a hydrophilic surface, enhancing the wettability of the scaffolds, which is crucial for improved cell interaction. Weight loss measurements after 35 days of immersion in the phosphate-buffered saline solution demonstrated that the degradation rate of PLA scaffolds was increased from about 1% to 3.5% after g-C3N4 incorporation. Moreover, cell adhesion and viability were significantly improved in the composite scaffolds. Mechanical evaluations indicated that the elastic modulus and compressive strength increased dramatically from 174 to 15 MPa for pure PLA to 435 and 33 MPa for the PLA/g-C3N4 composite, respectively. In summary, these results suggest that the incorporation of g-C3N4 into PLA scaffolds enhances their mechanical and biological performance, making them excellent candidates for possible use in bone tissue engineering applications.
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spelling doaj-art-406914ab71cd4c92ade08ce3214894f92025-08-20T02:37:20ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-03-013530831610.1016/j.jmrt.2025.01.046Enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineeringAlborz Bakhtiari0Hamid Reza Madaah Hosseini1Reza Alizadeh2Mohsen Mohammadi3Masoud Zarei4Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, IranDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute for Convergence Science & Technology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, IranCenter for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Institute for Convergence Science & Technology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Institute for Convergence Science & Technology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, IranDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, IranThe practical application of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds in bone tissue engineering necessitates further enhancements in mechanical properties, cell adhesion, cell viability, hydrophilicity, and degradation rate. Accordingly, this study investigates the effect of incorporating 1 wt% of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets on different properties of PLA scaffolds fabricated via fused deposition modeling. Results obtained from differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the crystallinity increased moderately from 1.90 to 2.70% with the addition of g-C3N4. Also, incorporating g-C3N4 into the PLA matrix significantly reduced the water contact angle of pure PLA from 82.54° to 54.65°, reflecting a transition from a hydrophobic to a hydrophilic surface, enhancing the wettability of the scaffolds, which is crucial for improved cell interaction. Weight loss measurements after 35 days of immersion in the phosphate-buffered saline solution demonstrated that the degradation rate of PLA scaffolds was increased from about 1% to 3.5% after g-C3N4 incorporation. Moreover, cell adhesion and viability were significantly improved in the composite scaffolds. Mechanical evaluations indicated that the elastic modulus and compressive strength increased dramatically from 174 to 15 MPa for pure PLA to 435 and 33 MPa for the PLA/g-C3N4 composite, respectively. In summary, these results suggest that the incorporation of g-C3N4 into PLA scaffolds enhances their mechanical and biological performance, making them excellent candidates for possible use in bone tissue engineering applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425000468Bone tissue engineeringGraphitic carbon nitridePolylactic acid3D printing
spellingShingle Alborz Bakhtiari
Hamid Reza Madaah Hosseini
Reza Alizadeh
Mohsen Mohammadi
Masoud Zarei
Enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineering
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Bone tissue engineering
Graphitic carbon nitride
Polylactic acid
3D printing
title Enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineering
title_full Enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineering
title_fullStr Enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineering
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineering
title_short Enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineering
title_sort enhancing mechanical and biological properties of 3d printed polylactic acid scaffolds by graphitic carbon nitride addition for bone tissue engineering
topic Bone tissue engineering
Graphitic carbon nitride
Polylactic acid
3D printing
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425000468
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