Effect of Sr2+ on 3D gel-printed Sr3−xMgx(PO4)2 composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Porous magnesium strontium phosphate (Sr 3− x Mg x (PO 4 ) 2 ) ( x = 2, 2.5, 3) composite scaffolds were successfully prepared by three dimension gel-printing (3DGP) method in this study. The results show that Sr 0.5 Mg 2.5 (PO 4 ) 2 scaffolds had good compressive strength, and Sr 1.0 Mg 2.0 (PO 4 ) 2 scaffolds had good degradation rate in vitro. The weight loss rate of Sr 1.0 Mg 2.0 (PO 4 ) 2 scaffolds soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) or 6 weeks was 6.96%, and pH value varied between 7.50 and 8.61, which was within the acceptable range of human body. Preliminary biological experiment shows that MC3T3-E1 cells had good adhesion and proliferation on the surface of Sr 3− x Mg x (PO 4 ) 2 scaffolds. Compared with pure Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 scaffolds, strontium doped scaffolds had excellent comprehensive properties, which explain that Sr 3− x Mg x (PO 4 ) 2 composite scaffolds can be used for bone tissue engineering.