On 3D Printing of Architected PLA-PLA Nanofiber-Based Biomedical Scaffolds

Architected scaffolds are being used extensively in tissue engineering applications. Some studies have reported the architected structures of polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers (NF), prepared by fused filament fabrication (FFF)-based 3D printing. But hitherto little has been reported on the mechanical properties of PLA-PLA (NF)-PLA-based scaffolds. In this study, the PLA(NF) were electrospun in the first stage, and an architected scaffold of PLA-PLA(NF) (with 1, 2, and 3 layers)-PLA was prepared in the second stage. Further, the fracture morphology of the architected scaffolds was investigated from the crash-loading viewpoint. The PLA-PLA(2NF)-PLA scaffold resulted in an improved modulus of toughness (MoT) (5.62%) as compared to PLA. However, a significant drop in the elastic modulus (E) was observed. The maximum surface roughness (Ra: 204.50 nm) was observed at the fracture region of the PLA-PLA(3NF)-PLA scaffold. The results have been supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis.