Development of advanced polymer-derived calcium and magnesium silicate ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Bioceramics represent a specific class of biomaterials with promising potential for biomedical applications, due to their biocompatibility, bioactivity and bioresobability features. Scaffolds produced from these materials are widely employed in bone tissue engineering because of their ability to promote new tissue formation and their mechanical properties, which closely resemble those of natural bone. This work focused on a Wollastonite-Diopside (CaSiO3-CaMgSi2O6) and Akermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7) glass-ceramic systems, known for their excellent bioactivity driven by a controlled ionic release that stimulates apatite formation. Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a powerful tool to produce three-dimensional scaffolds. Compared to traditional methods, AM offers enhanced control over scaffold architecture, including pore shape, size, amount and spatial distribution. The aim of this thesis is to optimize the manufacturing process for Wollastonite-Diopside and Akermanite scaffolds. After the development of photosensitive inks, three different preceramic polymer formulations were printed using a lithography-based AM technique: WDE (corresponding to the eutectic composition between Wollastonite and Diopside), WD50-50 (containing equal amounts of Wollastonite and Diopside) and AK (intended to produce Akermanite). After heat treatment, the resulting bioceramic scaffolds were characterized in terms of morphology and mechanical properties. Finally, the collected results were systematically evaluated and compared in terms of their relevance to biological applications.