PCL/Ibuprofen Implants Fabricated by Selective Laser Sintering for Orbital Repair

This paper describes the properties of porous polycaprolactone/ibuprofen implants fabricated by SLS for orbital floor repair. The specimens prepared showed homogeneous morphology and pore interconnectivity. PCL/ibuprofen specimens presented a higher degree of sintering than pure PCL specimens. The PCL/ibuprofen specimen sintered under the highest laser power showed the lowest crystallinity value due to a fast cooling rate resulting from the strong laser absorption presented by the PCL/ibuprofen mixture. The specimens showed a significant increase in the flexural modulus when the laser energy density used in the manufacturing was increased. The DMA tests indicated that solubilization and the formation of secondary chemical interactions between the drug and the PCL did not occur. The PCL/ibuprofen specimens showed the occurrence of non-linear drug release with respect to time, suggesting Fickian release kinetics via a diffusion mechanism. The release profile for porous plates of PCL/ibuprofen prepared by selective laser sintering indicated that these devices could be applied for bone regeneration and the control of the inflammatory process soon after implantation.