The electrical properties and in vitro osteogenic properties of 3D-printed MgO@BT/HA piezoelectric ceramic disk

The repair of bone defects from various causes remains a significant challenge in clinical settings. Piezoelectric materials have been demonstrated to promote osteogenic differentiation, among which barium titanate (BT) has been widely reported. Magnesium oxide (MgO) dopants not only enhance the piezoelectric properties but also stimulate the osteogenic and angiogenic properties in stem cells. In this study, a MgO-modified BT/hydroxyapatite (MgO@BT/HA) piezoelectric ceramic scaffold was constructed using three-dimensional (3D)-printed technology. The results indicated that the addition of MgO improved the electrical properties of BT ( d 33 = 68.26 pC/N), and facilitated an increase in the proportion of HA (30%) while maintaining the piezoelectric coefficient ( d 33 = 2.04 pC/N) of the ceramic system. Furthermore, under the induction of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) stimulation, in vitro biosafety experiments confirmed that MgO@BT/HA exhibits excellent biosafety and promotes the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).