Optimization Design Strategy for Additive Manufacturing Process to Develop 3D Magnetic Nanocomposite Scaffolds

Abstract

In the current research, an optimization design strategy for additive manufacturing processes based on extrusion/injection methods was extended to the fabrication of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/iron oxide (Fe3O4) scaffolds for tissue engineering. The attention was focused on four parameters: process temperature (PT), deposition velocity (DV), screw rotation velocity (SRV), slice thickness (ST). Specifically, PCL/Fe3O4 scaffolds were manufactured varying iteratively one parameter, while maintaining constant the other three parameters. A further insight into the influence of process parameters on the morphological features and mechanical properties of PCL/Fe3O4 scaffolds was provided.