Ceramic-containing bioactive inks and printing methods for tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Ink formulations comprising bioactive particles, methods of printing the inks into three-dimensional (3D) structures, and methods of making the inks are provided. Also provided are objects, such as tissue growth scaffolds and artificial bone, made from the inks, methods of forming the objects using 3D printing techniques, and method for growing tissue on the tissue growth scaffolds. The inks comprise a plurality of bioactive ceramic particles, a biocompatible polymer binder, optionally at least one bioactive factor, and a solvent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ink comprising: bioactive ceramic particles; a biocompatible polymer binder; and at least one solvent, wherein the ink comprises at least 70 weight percent of the bioactive ceramic particles, based on the total combined weight of the bioactive ceramic particles and the biocompatible polymer binder. 
     
     
         2 . The ink of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bioactive factor. 
     
     
         3 . The ink of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer binder is a degradable polyester and the bioactive ceramic particles are hydroxyapatite particles, tricalcium phosphate particles, or combinations thereof 
     
     
         4 . The ink of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer is polycaprolactone. 
     
     
         5 . The ink of  claim 4 , wherein the bioactive ceramic particles are hydroxyapatite particles and the ink comprises at least 80 weight percent of the hydroxyapatite particles, based on the total combined weight of the hydroxyapatite particles and the polycaprolactone. 
     
     
         6 . The ink of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer is polylactic-co-glycolic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The ink of  claim 6 , wherein the bioactive ceramic particles are hydroxyapatite particles and the ink comprises at least 80 weight percent of the hydroxyapatite particles, based on the total combined weight of the hydroxyapatite particles and the polylactic-co-glycolic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The ink of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one bioactive factor selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, growth factors, genes, pharmaceutical compounds, antibiotics and combinations thereof 
     
     
         9 . The ink  claim 1 , comprising at least 90 weight percent of the bioactive ceramic particles, based on the total combined weight of the bioactive ceramic particles and the biocompatible polymer binder. 
     
     
         10 . An object comprising a material comprising bioactive ceramic particles; and a biocompatible polymer binder, wherein the object comprises at least 70 weight percent of the bioactive ceramic particles, based on the total combined weight of the bioactive ceramic particles and the biocompatible polymer binder and further wherein the object is hyperelastic. 
     
     
         11 . The object of  claim 10 , wherein wherein the bioactive ceramic particles are hydroxyapatite particles and the biocompatible polymer binder is polycaprolactone. 
     
     
         12 . The object of  claim 10 , wherein the bioactive ceramic particles are hydroxyapatite particles and the biocompatible polymer binder is polylactic-co-glycolic acid. 
     
     
         13 . The object of  claim 10 , comprising at least 90 weight percent of the bioactive ceramic particles, based on the total combined weight of the bioactive ceramic particles and the biocompatible polymer binder. 
     
     
         14 . The object of  claim 10 , wherein the material further comprises at least one bioactive factor. 
     
     
         15 . The object of  claim 10 , wherein the object is sufficiently mechanically compliant to be folded, rolled or cut. 
     
     
         16 . The object of  claim 14 , wherein the object is a porous scaffold comprising a plurality of layers configured in a vertical stack, each layer comprising the material comprising the at least one bioactive factor, the bioactive ceramic particles; and the biocompatible polymer binder. 
     
     
         17 . The scaffold of  claim 16 , wherein the bioactive ceramic particles are hydroxyapatite particles and the biocompatible polymer binder is polycaprolactone. 
     
     
         18 . The scaffold of  claim 16 , wherein the bioactive ceramic particles are hydroxyapatite particles and the biocompatible polymer binder is polylactic-co-glycolic acid. 
     
     
         19 . A method of growing tissue on the scaffold of  claim 16 , the method comprising seeding the scaffold with tissue-forming cells, or cells that are precursors to tissue forming cells, and culturing the seeded-scaffold in a cell growth culture medium. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the tissue is osteo, chondral, osteochondral, meniscal, or cartilage tissue.