3D-printed β-TCP scaffolds coated with palmarosa essential oil: antibacterial and cytotoxicity studies
Borges VRdS, Melo MCB, de Siqueira L, Barbosa L, Arango Ospina M, Hotza D, Boccaccini AR, Trichês EdS (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 21
Article Number: 035039
Journal Issue: 3
Abstract
The use of natural antibacterial agents in bone tissue engineering has gained attention as an alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly in response to the growing challenge of bacterial resistance. In this study, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds were fabricated via direct ink writing and coated with palmarosa essential oil (PEO), which was extracted from the medicinal plant Cymbopogon martinii, known for its high geraniol content and antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. The scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and in vitro biological assays. SEM images confirmed the structural fidelity and porous architecture of the scaffolds, while FTIR spectra indicated the presence of PEO-associated functional groups. Dissolution studies revealed a marked release within the first 24 h, and kinetic fitting indicated that the release profile was best described by a first-order model. Antibacterial tests demonstrated effective inhibition against S. aureus and Escherichia coli, and cell viability assays using MG-63 cells indicated good cytocompatibility. The novelty of this work lies in coating 3D-printed β-TCP scaffolds with PEO, a combination not previously reported, offering a sustainable, antibiotic-free strategy for localized antibacterial activity. These findings highlight the potential of PEO-coated β-TCP scaffolds as multifunctional biomaterials for infection-prone bone repair applications.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Federal University of São Paulo / Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)
Brazil (BR)
Federal University of Santa Catarina / Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC)
Brazil (BR)
São Paulo State University / Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP)
Brazil (BR)
Brazil (BR)
Federal University of Santa Catarina / Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC)
Brazil (BR)
São Paulo State University / Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP)
Brazil (BR)
How to cite
APA:
Borges, V.R.d.S., Melo, M.C.B., de Siqueira, L., Barbosa, L., Arango Ospina, M., Hotza, D.,... Trichês, E.d.S. (2026). 3D-printed β-TCP scaffolds coated with palmarosa essential oil: antibacterial and cytotoxicity studies. Biomedical Materials, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-605X/ae792a
MLA:
Borges, Veronica Ribeiro dos Santos, et al. "3D-printed β-TCP scaffolds coated with palmarosa essential oil: antibacterial and cytotoxicity studies." Biomedical Materials 21.3 (2026).
BibTeX: Download