Manufacturing of biocompatible ceramic bone substitutes by 3D-printing

The suitability of a newly developed powder-binder system using a tetracalcium phosphate / beta-tricalcium phosphate powder mixture and an aqueous citric acid binder solution for three-dimensional printing was studied. Various printed devices with intersecting channels and filigree structures are available with this material combination. Two post-processing methods, a sintering and a polymer infiltration process, were established to substantially improve the mechanical properties of printed devices. Preliminary investigations on relevant application properties including sterilizability and in vitro cytocompatibility testing demonstrate the potential of the new powder-binder system to fabricate patient specific bone substitutes and implant materials.