Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (2): 507-515.doi: 10.12307/2025.897

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3D printed poly-L-lactic acid bone scaffolds in repair of bone defects

Yang Fengli1, 2, Zhou Chao2, Xiong Wei3, Zhou Yuxiang2, Li Dengshun2, Wang Xin4, Li Zhanzhen1, 2   

  1. 1Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China; 2Zhoushan Dinghai Guanghua Hospital, Zhoushan 316000, Zhejiang Province, China; 3Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China; 4Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100028, China 
  • Received:2024-09-30 Accepted:2024-11-25 Online:2026-01-18 Published:2025-07-03
  • Contact: Li Zhanzhen, Doctoral supervisor, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China; Zhoushan Dinghai Guanghua Hospital, Zhoushan 316000, Zhejiang Province, China Wang Xin, MD, Master’s supervisor, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100028, China
  • About author:Yang Fengli, Master candidate, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China; Zhoushan Dinghai Guanghua Hospital, Zhoushan 316000, Zhejiang Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Zhoushan City Public Welfare Project, No. 2022C31034 (to ZC); Graduate Innovation Special Fund of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. JZYC23S24 (to XW)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: 3D-printed bone tissue engineering scaffolds have obvious advantages in the research and clinical treatment of bone defect repair. As one of the important raw materials for 3D printed bone scaffolds, poly-L-lactic acid has a great potential for application in performing bone defect repair, but clinical patients with different bone defect causative factors have different requirements for the comprehensive performance of poly-L-lactic acid bone scaffolds.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize and review the development of 3D printing technology and poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds and the design strategies chosen for scaffolds for bone repair in the setting of bone diseases such as osteomyelitis, bone tumor, osteonecrosis, and osteoporosis.
METHODS: Literature from CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases were searched and screened from 1994 to 2024. Search terms were “3D printing, polylactic acid, bone tissue engineering scaffold, osteomyelitis, bone tumor, osteonecrosis, osteoporosis, bone defect” in Chinese and English. The screened 62 articles were systematically summarized and analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Poly-L-lactic acid is considered to be an ideal raw material for artificial bone scaffold design due to its non-toxicity, processability, biocompatibility, and ability to self-degrade in the human environment. The application of 3D printing technology has enabled poly-L-lactic acid bone scaffolds to meet the multilayered and porous structural design requirements of biomimetic artificial bone repair materials, and to optimize the mechanical properties for better bone repair. (2) According to different bone disease microenvironments, timely adjustment of the functional design of poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds is important for the comprehensive osteogenic efficacy of the scaffolds. The article discusses the application of poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds in bone disease environments such as osteomyelitis, bone tumor, osteonecrosis, and osteoporosis, and highlights the importance of rationally grasping the timing of bone disease treatment and bone tissue regeneration for bone defects caused by different bone diseases. (3) Although poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds show potential in bone repair, there are still some problems, such as the need to further optimize the structural design of the scaffolds to fit new bone regeneration, enhance the bioactivity of the scaffolds, and take into account other functions (e.g., antimicrobial, anti-tumor, and anti-osteoporosis) in order to adapt to the needs of bone tissue repair in different pathological environments.


Key words: 3D printing, poly-L-lactic acid, bone tissue engineering scaffolds, osteomyelitis, bone tumor, osteonecrosis, osteoporosis, bone defects

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