Silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite reinforced 3D printed gelatin membrane for guided bone regeneration

Abstract Guided bone regeneration (GBR) warrants a bioactive membrane with biocompatibility, host tissue integration, and clinical moldability along with adequate mechanical and physical properties. Hydroxyapatite (HA) incorporated membranes have shown to promote the functional and osteogenic activity of stromal cells towards GBR. Also, many studies have demonstrated that the addition of trace elements such as Silicon-substituted HA (SiHA) accelerates and enhances bioactivity compared to HA. In this study, HA and SiHA were incorporated with gelatin (Gel) which is a biocompatible, low-cost, and cell-attractant, and widely used material for GBR. The three-dimensional printed construct provides for topography with interconnected pores that permit selective cell occlusion; a desirable property for GBR. The objective of the study was to develop, characterize, and study the osteogenic potential of Gel-SiHA membrane for GBR.