BMTBiomaterials TranslationalTBA2096-112XBiomaterials Translational10.12336/bmt.25.00190Original ResearchComparative characteristics of bovine-derived, nanosized synthetic, and microsized synthetic hydroxyapatite in polylactic acid-based bone scaffoldshttps://artdesignp.com/journal/BMT/0/0/10.12336/bmt.25.00190GaniMaria Apriliani,BerthelotThéodore,TricotSylvie,NovellaAgnès,LefeuvreBertrand,LucasAnita,LebullengerRonan,KhotibJunaidi,BrézulierDamien2026002026-10-13Bone defects resulting from trauma, degenerative diseases, or tumor resection remain a significant clinical challenge, often requiring scaffold implantation to support bone regeneration while enduring physiological mechanical loads. Polylactic acid (PLA) is widely used for scaffold fabrication due to its biodegradability and excellent printability, yet it lacks osteoconductive properties. To address this limitation, PLA is commonly combined with hydroxyapatite (HA), a calcium phosphate ceramic that mimics bone’s mineral phase. This study investigated the effect of three distinct HA types – synthetic micro-HA (HA), synthetic nano-HA (nHA), and natural bovine-derived HA (BHA) – in PLA-based three-dimensionally printed scaffolds. All scaffolds exhibited comparable porosity (21–23%), pore size (564–601 μm), and fibre diameter (439–470 μm). However, PLA-BHA scaffolds demonstrated higher mechanical performance, with compressive strength values up to 3.6- and 4.6-fold greater than those of PLA-HA and PLA-nHA, respectively. Thermal analysis showed that BHA slightly reduced PLA’s degradation onset but improved high-temperature residue retention. The in vitro cytocompatibility assessment using SaOS-2 osteoblasts showed satisfactory cell viability and adhesion across all scaffolds, with the lowest early viability observed on PLA-HA. These in vitro findings suggest that BHA has potential for use as a scaffold in weight-bearing sites; however, additional verification in large animal models is needed.Polylactic acid, Hydroxyapatite, Bovine hydroxyapatite, Synthetic hydroxyapatite, Nano-hydroxyapatite, Three-dimensional printing, Mechanical strength

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