Development and Preliminary In Vivo Study of 3D-Printed Bioactive Glass Scaffolds with Trabecular Architecture

The bioactive silicate glass "1d" (BG-1d), belonging to the multicomponent CaO-MgO-Na2O-P2O5-SiO2-CaF2 system, is proved to be highly effective in promoting alveolar bone regeneration in humans when implanted in the form of particles. This study moves one step forward in developing BG-1d scaffolds with trabecular architecture by digital light processing-based vat photopolymerization to be then implanted in rabbit femora, which has never been reported so far. The scaffolds exhibit a clear osteogenic effect in vivo and undergo gradual resorption followed by ossification. Substantial resorption of scaffolds in favor of new bone formation is achieved within 3 months. These in vivo results support the suitability of BG-1d scaffolds for application in bone tissue engineering and, given the reproducibility and reliability of the 3D-printed devices, show promise for potential translation to the clinic.