# New Three Dimensional-Printed Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol Liners for Hip Joint Endoprostheses: A Bioactive Platform for Bone Regeneration

**Authors:** Gheorghe Iosub, Ioana-Alexandra Lungescu, Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă, Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu, Paul Catalin Balaure, Sorin Constantinescu, Bogdan Mihaiescu, Dragoș Mihai Rădulescu, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu, Ariana Hudiță, Ionela Andreea Neacșu, Adrian Radu Rădulescu

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/ma18061206 · Materials · 2025-03-08

## TL;DR

This study explores 3D-printed scaffolds made of PETG, chitosan, hydroxyapatite, and folic acid to support bone regeneration in postmenopausal women.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the development of a bioactive 3D-printed scaffold combining PETG, HAp, and FA for bone tissue engineering.

## Key findings

- The scaffolds showed enhanced cell viability and proliferation in preosteoblast cell lines.
- Physicochemical analyses confirmed successful integration of HAp and FA into the PETG-CS matrix.
- The material offers a promising platform for personalized regenerative therapies in bone repair.

## Abstract

Osteoporosis and bone defects are commonly observed in postmenopausal women, often linked to decreased folic acid levels, which play a crucial role in bone metabolism and regeneration. This study investigates 3D-printed polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG)-based porous scaffolds impregnated with chitosan (CS), hydroxyapatite (HAp), and folic acid (FA) for bone tissue engineering applications. The PETG-CS scaffold serves as the primary structural framework, with HAp incorporated to enhance bioactivity through its osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. FA was included to address potential deficiencies in bone quality and to stimulate cellular differentiation. The scaffolds were fabricated using precise 3D printing techniques, yielding structures with controlled porosity. Physicochemical analyses confirmed the successful integration of HAp and FA into the PETG-CS matrix. Biological evaluations using preosteoblast cell lines demonstrated enhanced cell viability, proliferation, and biocompatibility of the scaffolds. These findings highlight the promising applications of PETG-CS-HAp-FA scaffolds in bone tissue engineering, providing a platform for future investigations into personalized regenerative therapies.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** chitosan (PubChem CID 129662530), hydroxyapatite (PubChem CID 14781), folic acid (PubChem CID 135398658)
- **Diseases:** osteoporosis (MONDO:0005298)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** bone defects (MESH:D001847), Osteoporosis (MESH:D010024)
- **Chemicals:** PETG (MESH:C475920), CS (MESH:D048271), FA (MESH:D005492), HAp (MESH:D017886)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11944038/full.md

## Figures

16 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11944038/full.md

## References

90 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11944038/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11944038