Stereolithography printing of bone scaffolds using biofunctional calcium phosphate nanoparticles

Abstract Calcium phosphate (CaP) has been widely used for bone defect repair due to good biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. Additive manufacture of calcium phosphate bioceramics with tailored architectures and improved mechanical properties has recently attracted great attention. Herein, calcium phosphate nanoparticles with the size of ∼89-164 nm were synthesized by the hydrothermal treatment of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) precursors at 180 °C for 24 h. Biofunctional elements including Mg, Sr and Zn have been doped into these calcium phosphate nanoparticles. Our results revealed that Mg2+ ions played critical roles in formation of whitlockite-type calcium phosphate (not hydroxyapatite) from ACP precursors. Moreover, gyroid scaffolds with bionic triply periodic minimal surface structures were fabricated using stereolithography printing of these calcium phosphate nanoparticles, which are likely used as biofunctional scaffolds for bone repair.