Effect of laser drilling on biomorphically engineered hydroxyapatite scaffolds derived from rattan wood

The restoration of critical-size load-bearing bone defects calls for the application of bioactive scaffolds that are regenerative, osteoconductive, and demonstrate mechanical strength comparable with natural bone. Novel hydroxyapatite (HAp) scaffolds sourced and fabricated through the biomorphic transformation of rattan wood (GreenBone-GB) were laser-drilled (LD) with parallel and lateral sub-millimetre channels, which enhanced the overall porosity for promoting the flow of cells and fluids throughout the scaffolds. The compositional analysis of the LD scaffolds confirmed the presence of the Ca5(PO4)3OH and Ca3(PO4)2 phases, with no evidence of drilling contamination. Water jet laser drilling enhanced the interconnecting porosity of the morphogenic scaffolds by 22.5 %, without obstructing the intrinsic uniaxial fibrous structure inherited from rattan wood. Across eight varied drilled patterns, the resulting scaffolds preserved the structural integrity and exhibited compressive strength ranging from 6.74 ± 1.25 to 10.18 ± 0.43 MPa, while the Vickers Hardness was comparable with natural bone. Cell viability assessments confirmed that the LD scaffolds exhibited no toxicity and presented >90 % cell viability. We demonstrate that laser drilling effectively enhanced the pore volume for improved osteoconductivity via cell migration in the bio-morphogenic GB-structure. Since the GB scaffolds are CE-marked products, laser drilling for pore surface engineering could provide improved scaffolds for clinical use.