Additive Manufacturing of Bioceramics at Sichuan University

Biofabrication Research Initiatives

3D printing of bio-ceramics, especially the bioactive calcium phosphate bio-ceramics, has drawn considerable attention in recent years. The customized 3D-printed calcium phosphate bio-ceramics can be used for maxillofacial bone repair, tumor bone defect filling, articular cup and elbow bone replacement.

The Bio-fabrication (3D Bioprinting) Research Laboratory at Sichuan University attempts to innovative researches and commercialization through the combination of engineering and biomedicine.

The purpose of the laboratory is to promote the industrialization of technology and market operation, to meet the needs of personalized biomedicine and treatment to patients and to help to construct a harmonious and healthy society. Up to now, the researches of the laboratory involved 3D printing of many different materials, involving bio-ceramics, metal, polymers and composites.

Bioceramics printed with Admaflex DLP technology

Bio-ceramics possess exceptional biocompatibility and bioactivity with respect to bone cells and tissues, due to their similarities to the chemical components and mineral structure of the bone tissues. The calcium phosphate bio-ceramic is beneficial to biomineralization in bone tissue regeneration. Bio-ceramics with different structures, shapes and biological functions can be successfully printed with the Admaflex DLP technology. Studies are being conducted on the applications of filling ceramic, cements, bearing bone substitute, component materials, or coating on orthopedic implants. Calcium phosphate powders (HA, β-TCP, BCP) formulated with different proportions can be used for printing slurry configuration.

The scaffolds may be fabricated by DLP 3D printing to obtain the porosity of 40–95%. The optimal pore sizes ranging from 150 μm to 800 μm were recognized for bone tissue growth and reconstruction. It has been proved that the 3D-printed calcium phosphate bio-ceramic shows excellent osteoconduction and osteoinduction; hence, it is a promising biomaterial for bone repair.

Furthermore, the degradation rate of the bio-ceramic can be controlled by adjusting the porous structure and the material composition, which may tailor the biodegradation rate to match the growth rate of new bone regeneration.

Craniomaxillofacial biodegradable osteoinduction implants

Due to the diverse appearances of people, there are very highly personalized requirements for craniomaxillofacial bone tissue repair and reconstruction. 3D printing is a good choice for this kind of application. In the Research Laboratory at Sichuan University, personalized modeling has been studied based on patients’ medical image data and fabrication of customized implants using biodegradable CaP bioceramics. With 3D printing of degradable calcium phosphate ceramics, the new bone tissue can be induced and the maxillofacial morphology can be well reconstructed, with the biological functions well repaired.

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