Fabrication of 3D printed Ca 3 Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 4 -based bioceramic scaffolds with tailorable high mechanical strength and osteostimulation effect.

Calcium, magnesium and phosphate are predominant constituents in the human bone. In this study, magnesium-calcium phosphate composite bioceramic scaffolds were fabricated utilizing Mg ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ and β-Ca ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ as starting materials, and their pore structure was constructed by 3D printing. The porosity and compressive strength of the composite bioceramic scaffolds could be adjusted by altering the sintering temperature and the formula of starting materials. The composite bioceramic scaffolds prepared from 60 wt% Mg ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ and 40 wt% β-Ca ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ were dominated by the Ca ₃ Mg ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₄ phase, and this Ca ₃ Mg ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₄ -based bioceramic scaffolds possessed the highest compressive strength (12.7 - 92.4 MPa). Moreover, the Ca ₃ Mg ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₄ -based bioceramic scaffolds stimulated cellular growth and osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells. The Ca ₃ Mg ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₄ -based bioceramic scaffolds as bone regenerative biomaterials are flexible to the requirement of bone defects at various sites.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no declarations of interest.
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