Mechanical Characterization of Polylactic Acid Composite Scaffolds Formed in Different Lattice Structures by Fused Deposition Modeling-Based 3D Printing.

Scaffolds' designs and physical properties have an important place in tissue engineering. Using different biomaterials, scaffolds with other structures can be developed. The thermal and mechanical properties of biomaterials used in producing scaffolds with the fused deposition modeling method are significant for the application's success. The material must be suitable for both the production method and to be used as a scaffold. Therefore, this study designed three different scaffolds made of the same polylactic acid (PLA) material, but with different lattice structures. To determine the mechanical properties of PLA scaffolds formed, 800 N axial compression load at a 20 mm/min velocity was applied to the samples, with  = 3 in each group. To determine the stiffness of scaffolds, the stress-strain values were calculated by measuring the maximum displacement data under load in each group. Also, finite element analysis was performed on PLA scaffold models. At the same time, scanning electron microscope, differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray powder diffraction pattern analyses were carried out. As a result, it has been concluded that the design significantly affects mechanical properties. Besides the material, the scaffold design is the most important parameter in tissue engineering studies.