Three-Dimensionally Printed Scaffolds of Crab Shell-Derived Calcium Hydroxide, Beef Bone-Derived Hydroxyapatite, and Poly(butylene succinate) Composites

Recycled beef bones (BBs) and crab shells (CSs) were processed into natural derivatives. Through innovative design, these natural derivatives were then combined with biopolymers to create a type of ecofriendly filament suitable for three-dimensional (3D) printing of scaffolds for bone regeneration. The BBs and CSs were thermally processed to produce BB-derived hydroxyapatite (HA) and CS-derived calcium hydroxide (TCS), respectively. Maleic anhydride-modified poly(butylene succinate) (MPBS), HA, and TCS were combined and fabricated into composite filaments, which were then transformed into scaffolds using 3D printing technology. The structure and antibacterial behavior of the obtained composite scaffolds were studied. Alone, PBS showed no bacterial inhibition. A mixture of HA and TCS (THA) was added to MPBS to form a MPBS/THA composite material, which significantly improved the functional properties of cell proliferation and antibacterial effect. The calcium hydroxide content of TCS was responsible for the antibacterial effect. The MPBS/THA composites were porous and displayed enhanced osteoblast proliferation in vitro. The surfaces of the various PBS/HA and MPBS/THA composites showed elevated levels of calcium and phosphorus compounds when exposed to simulated body fluids. Calcium and phosphate ions were rapidly deposited on PBS/HA and MPBS/THA composite scaffolds in osteoblasts according to the cell mineralization assay. Our findings indicate great potential for PBS/HA and MPBS/THA composite scaffolds in bone tissue engineering applications.