Surface Treatment of 3D-Printed PCL/TCP Scaffold Through Aminolysis

Objectives: The surface modification of 3D porous scaffolds to improve their biocompatibility is one of the focus targets of researchers in bone tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to introduce amino groups onto the PCL/TCP scaffolds surface through aminolysis with 1,6-hexane diamine.

Methods: Composite scaffolds of PCL/TCP (30 %wt) were prepared by 3D printing. For aminolysis, the scaffolds were immersed in 5-10 %wt 1,6-hexanediamine solution in isopropanol for 1 h at 37°C to graft 1,6-hexanediamine onto them. The resulting scaffolds were rinsed three times in deionized water and dried in a vacuum oven at 30°C for 24 h. Finally, aminolysis was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The effect of different concentrations of 1,6-hexanediamine on cell attachment and cell proliferation was investigated by PrestoBlue assay and Live/Dead staining.

Results: FTIR analysis shows additional peaks in treated samples at special wavelengths which is absent in the non-treated scaffolds. In vitro cell seeding of dental pulp stem cells on the surface of samples reveal more cell proliferation and cell attachment on the surface of samples treated with 10% 1,6-hexanediamine.
Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the successful introduction of amine groups onto PCL/TCP substrates and show that a higher concentration of 1,6-hexanediamine would result in better cell proliferation.