Fabrication of blended polycaprolactone/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate thin membrane using solid freeform fabrication technology for guided bone regeneration.

This study developed a bioabsorbable-guided bone regeneration membrane made of blended polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) using solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technology. The chemical and physical properties of the membrane were evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and a tensile test. In vitro cell activity assays revealed that the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of seeded adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were significantly promoted by the PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membranes compared with PCL/PLGA membranes. When the PCL/PLGA and PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membranes were implanted on rabbit calvaria bone defects without ADSCs, microcomputed tomography and histological analyses confirmed that the SFF-based PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membranes greatly increased bone formation without the need for bone substitute materials. Moreover, tight integration, which helps to prevent exposure of the membrane, between both membranes and the soft tissues was clearly observed histologically. The SFF-based PCL/PLGA and PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membranes retained their mechanical stability for up to 8 weeks without significant collapse. Furthermore, PCL/PLGA/β-TCP underwent adequate degradation without a significant immune response at 8 weeks.