Biocompatible 3D printed yttria-stabilized zirconia parts using direct ink writing

Metals such as titanium or Cr-Co alloys have been the most widely used materials in biomedical applications that require high mechanical properties, like implants. However, these materials present the disadvantage of releasing ion metals into the body. As an alternative, prostheses made of ceramic materials have been developed, as they produce less debris and have better durability. The aim of the present work is to test the biocompatibility of 3D-printed yttria-stabilized zirconia parts by culturing human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Two different scaffols were 3D printed having a liner infill pattern, with 80 % and 95 % infill rate respectively. Results on surface roughness and biocompatibility tests confirmed that 3 mol % yttria-stabilized zirconia is a highly promising material as it presented high biocompatibility. In adition, similar results were obtained with or without the use of a type I collagen coating., which suggest that coating could be avoided when on zirconia substraes.