Comparing Properties of Variable Pore-Sized 3D-Printed PLA Membrane with Conventional PLA Membrane for Guided Bone/Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

The aim of this study was to fabricate bioresorbable polylactide (PLA) membranes by 3D printing and compare theirpropertiesto those of the membranes fabricated by theconventionalmethod and compare the effect of different pore sizes on thepropertiesof the3D-printedmembranes.PLAmembranes with three different pore sizes (large pore-479 μm, small pore-273 μm, and no pore) were3D printed, and membranes fabricated using theconventionalsolvent casting method were used as the control group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) were taken to observe the morphology and obtain the porosity of the four groups. A tensile test was performed to compare the tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation at break of the membranes. Preosteoblast cells were cultured on the membranes for 1, 3 and 7 days, followed by a WST assay and SEM, to examine the cell proliferation on different groups. As a result, the3D-printedmembranes showed superior mechanicalpropertiesto those of the solvent cast membranes, and the3D-printedmembranes exhibited different advantageous mechanicalpropertiesdepending on the different pore sizes. The various fabrication methods and pore sizes did not have significantly different effects on cell growth. It is proven that 3D printing is a promising method for the fabrication of customized barrier membranes used in GBR/GTR.