In vivo bone response to 3D periodic hydroxyapatite scaffolds assembled by direct ink writing

The in vivo bone response of 3D periodic hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds is investigated. Two groups of HA scaffolds (11 mm diameter x 3.5 mm thick) are fabricated by direct-write assembly of a concentrated HA ink. The scaffolds consist of cylindrical rods periodically arranged into four quadrants with varying separation distances between rods. In the first group, HA rods (250 microm in diameter) are patterned to create pore channels, whose areal dimensions are 250 x 250 microm(2) in quadrant 1, 250 x 500 microm(2) in quadrants 2 and 4, and 500 x 500 microm(2) in quadrant 3. In the second group, HA rods (400 microm in diameter) are patterned to create pore channels, whose areal dimensions of 500 x 500 microm(2) in quadrant 1, 500 x 750 microm(2) in quadrants 2 and 4, and 750 x 750 microm(2) in quadrant 3. Each group of scaffolds is partially densified by sintering at 1200 degrees C prior to being implanted bilaterally in trephine defects of skeletally mature New Zealand White rabbits. Their tissue response is evaluated at 8 and 16 weeks using micro-computed tomography, histology, and scanning electron microscopy. New trabecular bone is conducted rapidly and efficiently across substantial distances within these patterned 3D HA scaffolds. Our observations suggest that HA rods are first coated with a layer of new bone followed by subsequent scaffold infilling via outward and inward radial growth of the coated regions. Direct-write assembly of 3D periodic scaffolds composed of micro-porous HA rods arrayed to produce macro-pores that are size-matched to trabecular bone may represent an optimal strategy for bone repair and replacement structures.

Concentrated hydroxyapatite inks for direct-write assembly of 3-D periodic scaffolds

Hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds with a 3-D periodic architecture and multiscale porosity have been fabricated by direct-write assembly. Concentrated HA inks with tailored viscoelastic properties were developed to enable the construction of complex 3-D architectures comprised of self-supporting cylindrical rods in a layer-by-layer patterning sequence. By controlling their lattice constant and sintering conditions, 3-D periodic HA scaffolds were produced with a bimodal pore size distribution. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) was used to determine the characteristic pore size and volume associated with the interconnected pore channels between HA rods and the finer pores within the partially sintered HA rods.