Selective laser sintering PLA/Mg composite scaffold with promoted degradation and enhanced mechanical

The slow degradation rate of PLA is an urgent problem that needs to be solved to improve its application in tissue engineering. In this study, different proportions of Mg were introduced into PLA to promote and regulate its degradation. A porous composite bone scaffold of PLA and Mg was prepared using selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. After the introduction of Mg, its degradation products consumed the acidic degradation products by the hydrolysis of PLA, which destroyed the integrity of the molecular chain of PLA, accelerated the flow of the molecular chain, and formed a cycle that promoted degradation. The results showed that the weight loss degradation rate of the Mg-added scaffold was nearly seven times higher than that of the pure PLA scaffold within four weeks. In terms of mechanics, the compressive strength of the PLA/3Mg scaffold (5.6 MPa) is nearly twice that of the pure PLA scaffold (2.67 MPa). Therefore, we believe that the introduction of appropriate Mg can better regulate the balance between the degradation and mechanical properties of PLA scaffolds.