PLA-PCL composite filaments 

Polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are two of the most widely used materials in tissue engineering, due to their properties. PLA is known for its high rigidity, mechanical strength and biocompatibility, while PCL is valued for its flexibility, longer degradation time and excellent thermal processability. However, the use of these materials in their pure form may limit their applicability in certain scenarios. To overcome these limitations, blends of PLA and PCL at different concentrations have been developed, combining the advantages of both materials and allowing the adjustment of the composite’s physical and biological properties, such as elasticity, and controlling the degradation rate to best suit the intended application.

This protocol describes the method for fabricating scaffolds using a PLA-PCL blend as the base material. It details the specific printing parameters and configurations needed to achieve structures with optimal properties. Different PLA and PCL concentrations are explored to optimize the rigidity, elasticity, and controlled degradation of the scaffolds depending on the intended application.

The development of this method is essential to ensure the reproducibility and scalability of customized scaffolds that can be used in a variety of biomedical applications. This approach provides a versatile and efficient solution to meet the demands for precision and functionality in tissue engineering.

Materials

1. PLA/PCL composites line filaments (REGEMAT 3D – COLFEED)

Equipment required

1. Bio V1 or REG4Life bioprinters (REGEMAT 3D)
2. Filament extruder module (REGEMAT 3D)
3. PC with R3D Studio (REGEMAT 3D)

Methods

1. Turn on the bioprinter, connect it to the PC and launch the R3D Studio software. Click on “Connect”.
2. Select “Hotend Dual Extruder” in the header configuration and proceed with its calibration.
3. Load the biomaterial in the filament extruder head. 
4. Heat the nozzle at the melting temperature of the material, which in this case is between 150 and 170°C.
5. Heat glass bed between 40 and 60 ºC.
6. Load the .stl file with the 3D design of the desired 3D structure to print, select extra and object configurations and proceed to print on the glass bed.

Recommended tool and object configurations

Tool configuration

Travel speed: 50 mm/s Change object speed: 30 mm/s Initial purge speed: 15 mm/s Initial purge volume: 5 µL Retract volume (travelling): 5 µL Retract volume (changing tool): 8 µL Retract speed: 25 mm/s Minimum travel time to retract: 0.1 s Compensate (travelling): 5 µL Compensate (changing tool): 8 µL

Compensate speed: 25 µL/s W hop: 0.5 mm W hop speed: 1 mm/s Points deposition speed: mm/s Flow: 1.05 µL/s Perimeter speed: 6 mm/s Infill speed: 6 mm/s Fill speed: 6 mm/s Skirt speed: 6 mm/s Support speed: 6 mm/s

Object configuration

STL File: Cube  Scaffold size (mm): 1.50 x 20 x 20 (h x w x l) Infill pattern (angle): Lineal (90º) Initial angle: 0º Rotation angle: 90º

Pore size (mm): 2 x 2  Layer height (mm): 0.25 Solid bottom/top layers: 0  Perimeters: 1 Skirts: 2

Printed Examples
Blending 90:10	Blending 80:20
Blending 70:30

 

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