Engineering the interfaces of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds with bioactive molecules for bone tissue engineering

3D-printed tissue engineering scaffolds have emerged as a substitute to overcome the challenges faced in the reconstruction of bone. The prime objective of the study is to explore the feasibility of plasma-coated 3D-printed PLA scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. By engineering interfaces of these scaffolds with functional molecules, the surface properties can be controlled to ensure better interactions with the cells. To pursue this goal, the surface of these scaffolds was initially coated with polyoxazoline and then functionalized using L-Tryptophan. Hierarchical porous structures composed of meticulously ordered and well-connected pores were evident from the morphological analysis. The surface chemical characterisation revealed successful immobilisation of L-tryptophan on coated samples. The wettability of these scaffolds was favourable for cell adhesion and migration. They exhibited good mechanical properties, cytocompatibility and promoted the proliferation of osteosarcoma bone cells (MG-63). These results show the potential of bio-interface engineering in tailoring the surface properties of scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.