Work

Physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of 3D printed PVDF-TrFE-CPS composite bone scaffolds with piezoelectric properties

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • Biodegradable PVDF-TrFE-CPS scaffold addresses PVDF’s clinical limitations. • 3D-printed scaffold replicates bone strength and supports complex geometries. • Piezoelectricity mimics bone signals to enhance osteoblast differentiation. • CPS enhances hydroxyapatite formation and osteoinductive performance. • Stable degradation ensures safe environment for bone tissue regeneration. The repair of bone defects remains a significant clinical challenge due to their structural complexity and patient-specific variability. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based piezoelectric materials have attracted considerable attention owing to their excellent biocompatibility and piezoelectric properties; however, their non-degradability restricts further application in bone tissue engineering. To address this limitation, a composite scaffold composed of degradable poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) and calcium phosphate silicate (CPS) was fabricated via three-dimensional (3D) printing, integrating structural customizability with multifunctional performance. The results demonstrated that after 7 days of hydration, the scaffold exhibited a compressive strength of 7.6–8.38 MPa and a piezoelectric coefficient (d 33 ) of 6.01 pC/N, exceeding that of native cancellous bone while maintaining good stability. Moreover, the scaffold displayed enhanced mineralization capacity, promoted osteoblast proliferation (102.7–107.6 %) and alkaline phosphatase activity, and maintained moderate mass loss with stable pH during degradation, thereby providing a favorable microenvironment for bone regeneration. Collectively, the 3D-printed PVDF-TrFE-CPS composite scaffold demonstrated synergistic effects in structural regulation, mechanical support, piezoelectric stimulation, and osteoinductivity, offering a promising strategy for the personalized repair of complex bone defects.

Source: Materials & Design

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2025.115004

Authors: Yadong Chen, Guangteng Zhang, Da Ge, Meichen Wang, Tao Wu, Zheng Zou

Institutions: Shenyang University of Technology, Northeastern University, Chinese People's Liberation Army

Language: English

Topic: Bone Tissue Engineering Materials

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650