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Description
Polylactic acid (PLA) is an eco-friendly and biocompatible polymer commonly utilised in bone tissue engineering. However, its absence of antibacterial properties and susceptibility to wet chemical processes hinder its clinical application. Atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) is widely used for surface activation, but its application is typically confined to shallow surface modifications due to poor penetration depth. In this study, we present an innovative strategy that integrates APP directly into the bioprinting process, enabling in-situ functionalization of PLA scaffolds during fabrication. PLA is printed using a specialized 3D printing system incorporating APP treatment with a hybrid precursor that consists of acrylic acid (AAc) and silver nitrate. During the printing process, the APP facilitates in-situ plasma polymerisation and the reduction of silver ions, resulting in the direct attachment of carboxyl groups and silver ion reduction to the PLA scaffold surface. This quick and dry in-situ method incorporates plasma treatment into the 3D printing process, breaking through the limitation of APP on homogeneously functionalization of 3D substrate, and allowing for real-time functionalization while maintaining the structural integrity of PLA. The final 3D-printed PLA scaffolds demonstrate significantly enhanced hydrophilicity and antibacterial properties while preserving cytocompatibility. This combined printing and functionalization method offers a scalable and effective approach for producing advanced, infection-resistant scaffolds for applications in bone tissue engineering.
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