Characterization of Alginate–Gelatin–Cholesteryl Ester Liquid Crystals Bioinks for Extrusion Bioprinting of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Literature Review of an Anterior Deprogrammer to Determine the Centric Relation and Presentation of Cases

The increasing demand for dental aesthetics, articulation corrections, and solutions for pain and frequent bruxism demands quick and effective restorative dental management. The biomedical research aimed to create a beneficial, ecological, and readily available anterior deprogrammer to determine the centric relation (CR) of cases. This medical device is additively manufactured from a biocompatible material. Size is customizable based on the width of the patient's anterior central incisors. This is a pilot study with two subjects. The task was to develop a complete data protocol for the production process, computer-aided design (CAD), and three-dimensional (3D) printing of the anterior deprogrammers. The research focused on creating simple and practically applicable tools for the dentist's prescription (anterior deprogrammer in three sizes), and secondly for the communication between the dentist and the patient (computer application). The tested hypothesis was whether, according to these novel tools, it is possible to produce functional occlusal splints, which could be manufactured using current technologies. This study compared a traditional splint with a digitally designed and 3D-printed one. The tested hypothesis was whether manufactured occlusal splints differ in patients' subjective perception of comfort. Each conservative treatment was monitored for ten weeks. Initial results are promising; no statistically significant difference was found between the productive technologies.

Fabrication and Evaluation of Porous dECM/PCL Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Porous scaffolds play a crucial role in bone tissue regeneration and have been extensively investigated in this field. By incorporating a decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) onto tissue-engineered scaffolds, bone regeneration can be enhanced by replicating the molecular complexity of native bone tissue. However, the exploration of porous scaffolds with anisotropic channels and the effects of dECM on these scaffolds for bone cells and mineral deposition remains limited. To address this gap, we developed a porous polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold with anisotropic channels and functionalized it with dECM to capture the critical physicochemical properties of native bone tissue, promoting osteoblast cells' proliferation, differentiation, biomineralization, and osteogenesis. Our results demonstrated the successful fabrication of porous dECM/PCL scaffolds with multiple channel sizes for bone regeneration. The incorporation of 100 μm grid-based channels facilitated improved nutrient and oxygen infiltration, while the porous structure created using 30 mg/mL of sodium chloride significantly enhanced the cells' attachment and proliferation. Notably, the mechanical properties of the scaffolds closely resembled those of human bone tissue. Furthermore, compared with pure PCL scaffolds, the presence of dECM on the scaffolds substantially enhanced the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stem cells. Moreover, dECM significantly increased mineral deposition on the scaffold. Overall, the dECM/PCL scaffold holds significant potential as an alternative bone graft substitute for repairing bone injuries.

Bioinks of Natural Biomaterials for Printing Tissues

Bioinks are inks-in other words, hydrogels-prepared from biomaterials with certain physiochemical properties together with cells to establish hierarchically complex biological 3D scaffolds through various 3D bioprinting technologies [...].

Titanium Lattice Structures Produced via Additive Manufacturing for a Bone Scaffold: A Review

The progress in additive manufacturing has remarkably increased the application of lattice materials in the biomedical field for the fabrication of scaffolds used as bone substitutes. Ti6Al4V alloy is widely adopted for bone implant application as it combines both biological and mechanical properties. Recent breakthroughs in biomaterials and tissue engineering have allowed the regeneration of massive bone defects, which require external intervention to be bridged. However, the repair of such critical bone defects remains a challenge. The present review collected the most significant findings in the literature of the last ten years on Ti6Al4V porous scaffolds to provide a comprehensive summary of the mechanical and morphological requirements for the osteointegration process. Particular attention was given on the effects of pore size, surface roughness and the elastic modulus on bone scaffold performances. The application of the Gibson–Ashby model allowed for a comparison of the mechanical performance of the lattice materials with that of human bone. This allows for an evaluation of the suitability of different lattice materials for biomedical applications.