3D-Printed Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Reinforced with Cellulose Nanocrystals and Silver Nanoparticles for Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) have garnered significant attention in pharmaceutical and medical applications due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, and strong surface reactivity. In this study, we designed 3D-printed bioactive composite scaffolds via fused deposition modeling (FDM), incorporating polycaprolactone (PCL), CNC derived from Ficus thonningii bark, and silver nanoparticles (AgNps) synthesized through in situ reduction of silver nitrate AgNO3. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed AgNps incorporation, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a highly porous, interconnected structure. The inclusion of CNC and AgNps enhanced PCL's biodegradability, hydrophilicity, and hydroxyapatite nucleation, all crucial for osteoconductivity. The scaffolds demonstrated mechanical properties suitable for bone regeneration, effective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, and cytocompatibility with Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). These findings highlight the potential of PCL/CNCx/AgNps scaffolds as advanced biomaterials for bone tissue engineering, since they offer enhanced resorbability, antibacterial protection, and structural adaptability.