Optimization of Thermal, Mechanical, Biodegradation, and Shape Memory Properties in 4D-Printed PLA/PCL Blends for Spinal Cages
Open accessAbstract
ABSTRACT Spinal fusion cages play a crucial role in stabilizing the spine and promoting bone growth in degenerative spine disorders. Recent advancements in biodegradable polymer‐based cages have introduced materials with shape memory properties, enabling minimally invasive implantation and improved adaptability. This study focuses on the development of 4D‐printed PLA/PCL blend spinal cages, investigating their thermal, mechanical, biodegradation, and shape memory properties, alongside surface wettability through contact angle measurements. The novelty of this study lies in identifying the optimal PLA/PCL ratio, balancing mechanical strength, biodegradability, and shape memory behavior for spinal fusion applications. The findings highlight PLA/PCL (80:20) as the most suitable composition, offering a well‐balanced combination of properties. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that 20 wt% PCL enhances toughness, flexibility, and crystallinity while slightly reducing the glass transition temperature. Mechanical testing showed improved fracture behavior and elongation at this ratio, with tensile stress peaking before decreasing at higher PCL concentrations due to increased ductility. Biodegradation studies confirmed an increasing degradation rate with higher PCL content, while contact angle measurements indicated greater hydrophilicity, though this trend reversed at higher concentrations. Shape memory analysis demonstrated that as PCL content increased from 10 to 60 wt%, shape recovery decreased from 76.07% to 61.28%, while high shape fixity (96.42%–99.80%) was maintained. The PLA/PCL20 blend exhibited a 74.5% shape memory effect and a 68.75% recovery rate in the spinal cage design, making it a promising material for minimally invasive spinal fusion applications.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The decrease in crystallinity at >20 wt.% PCL was attributed to the disruption of the PLA crystal structure by excess PCL, which hinders effective chain arrangement.
“This was attributed to the disruption of the PLA crystal structure by excess PCL, which hinders the effective chain arrangement [92].”
The crystallinity was significantly decreased with the utilization of higher PCL content (>20 wt.%).
“Interestingly, the crystallinity was significantly decreased with the utilization of higher PCL content (i.e., > 20 wt.%).”
Incorporating 10 wt.% of PCL in PLA/PCL blends improved the crystallinity of PLA, and the highest crystallinity was achieved at 20 wt.%, owing to the nucleating effect of PCL.
“In one study, incorporating 10 wt.% of PCL in the blends improved the crystallinity of PLA, and the highest crystallinity was achieved at 20 wt.%, owing to the nucleating effect of PCL, which promotes the crystal formation of PLA.”
Cites
Bioactive Glass and Glass-Ceramic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
Gerhardt, L. ‐., & Boccaccini, A. R. (2010) · Materials · doi:10.3390/ma3073867 · Cited by 1,182 · see citing works
Thresholds for thermal damage to normal tissues: An update
Yarmolenko, P., Moon, E. J., Landon, C. D., Manzoor, A. A., Hochman, D. W., Viglianti, B. L., & Dewhirst, M. W. (2011) · International Journal of Hyperthermia · doi:10.3109/02656736.2010.534527 · Cited by 756 · see citing works
Wettability versus roughness of engineering surfaces
Kubiak, K. J., Wilson, M. C. T., Mathia, T. G., et al. (2010) · Wear · doi:10.1016/j.wear.2010.03.029 · Cited by 671 · see citing works
Poly(lactic acid) blends in biomedical applications
Saini, P. K., Arora, M., & Kumar, M. N. V. R. (2016) · Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.addr.2016.06.014 · Cited by 555 · see citing works
Wetting Transition from the Cassie–Baxter State to the Wenzel State on Textured Polymer Surfaces
Murakami, D., Jinnai, H., & Takahara, A. (2014) · Langmuir · doi:10.1021/la4049067 · Cited by 532 · see citing works
Heating technology for malignant tumors: a review
Kok, H. P., Cressman, E. N. K., Ceelen, W. P., Brace, C. L., Ivkov, R., Grüll, H., ter Haar, G., Wust, P., & Crezee, J. (2020) · International Journal of Hyperthermia · doi:10.1080/02656736.2020.1779357 · Cited by 429 · see citing works
Thermomechanics of the shape memory effect in polymers for biomedical applications
Gall, K., Yakacki, C. M., Liu, Y., Shandas, R., Willett, N., & Anseth, K. S. (2005) · Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A · doi:10.1002/jbm.a.30296 · Cited by 351 · see citing works
Hassanajili, S., Karami-Pour, A., Oryan, A., & Talaei‐Khozani, T. (2019) · Materials Science and Engineering C · doi:10.1016/j.msec.2019.109960 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
Reactive compatibilization of biodegradable blends of poly(lactic acid) and poly(ε-caprolactone)
Wang, L., Ma, W., Gross, R. A., & McCarthy, S. P. (1998) · Polymer Degradation and Stability · doi:10.1016/s0141-3910(97)00196-1 · Cited by 339 · see citing works
Navarro-Baena, I., Sessini, V., Dominici, F., Torre, L., Kenny, J. M., & Peponi, L. (2016) · Polymer Degradation and Stability · doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2016.03.037 · Cited by 304 · see citing works
Shape Memory Polymers as Smart Materials: A Review
Dayyoub, T., Maksimkin, A. V., Filippova, O. V., Tcherdyntsev, V. V., & Telyshev, D. V. (2022) · Polymers · doi:10.3390/polym14173511 · Cited by 265 · see citing works
Rahmatabadi, D., Ghasemi, I., Baniassadi, M., Abrinia, K., & Baghani, M. (2022) · Journal of Materials Research and Technology · doi:10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.11.024 · Cited by 240 · see citing works
Phase Structure, Compatibility, and Toughness of PLA/PCL Blends: A Review
Fortelny, I., Ujcic, A., Fambri, L., & Slouf, M. (2019) · Frontiers in Materials · doi:10.3389/fmats.2019.00206 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
Phase behavior and its viscoelastic response of polylactide/poly(ε-caprolactone) blend
Wu, D., Zhang, Y., Zhang, M., & Zhou, W. (2008) · European Polymer Journal · doi:10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2008.04.023 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Hydrolysis and Biodegradation of Poly(lactic acid)
Gorrasi, G., & Pantani, R. (2017) · Advances in polymer science · doi:10.1007/12_2016_12 · Cited by 192 · see citing works
Shape-Memory Polymers with Adjustable High Glass Transition Temperatures
Xiao, X., Kong, D., Qiu, X., Zhang, W., Zhang, F., Liu, L., Liu, Y., Zhang, S., Hu, Y., & Leng, J. (2015) · Macromolecules · doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.5b00654 · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Biomaterials in Spinal Implants: A Review
Warburton, A. J., Girdler, S. J., Mikhail, C., et al. (2019) · Neurospine · doi:10.14245/ns.1938296.148 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
Enzymatic degradation of polylactic acid (PLA)
Shalem, A., Yehezkeli, O., & Fishman, A. (2024) · Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology · doi:10.1007/s00253-024-13212-4 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
Combined one-way and two-way shape memory in a glass-forming nematic network
Qin, H., & Mather, P. T. (2009) · Macromolecules · doi:10.1021/ma8022926 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Urquijo, J., Guerrica‐Echevarría, G., & Eguiazábal, J. I. (2015) · Journal of Applied Polymer Science · doi:10.1002/app.42641 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Ostafinska, A., Fortelny, I., Nevoralova, M., Hodan, J., Kredatusova, J., & Slouf, M. (2015) · RSC Advances · doi:10.1039/c5ra21178f · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Paulides, M. M., Trefná, H. D., Curto, S., & Rodrigues, D. B. (2020) · Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.addr.2020.03.004 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Biomechanics of Lateral Interbody Spacers: Going Wider for Going Stiffer
Pimenta, L., Turner, A. W. L., Dooley, Z. A., et al. (2012) · The Scientific World JOURNAL · doi:10.1100/2012/381814 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
4D printing of PLA/PCL shape memory composites with controllable sequential deformation
Ma, S., Jiang, Z., Wang, M., Zhang, L., Liang, Y., Zhang, Z., Ren, L., & Ren, L. (2021) · Bio-Design and Manufacturing · doi:10.1007/s42242-021-00151-6 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Yousefi, M. A., Rahmatabadi, D., Baniassadi, M., Bodaghi, M., & Baghani, M. (2024) · Macromolecular Rapid Communications · doi:10.1002/marc.202400661 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Tsuji, H., & Miyauchi, S. (2001) · Polymer · doi:10.1016/s0032-3861(00)00792-8 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Jang, J., Min, K.-E., Kim, C., Shin, J.-S., Lee, J., & Yi, S. (2023) · International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing · doi:10.1007/s12541-022-00755-7 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Bioresorbable polymers: heading for a new generation of spinal cages
Wuisman, P. I. J. M., & Smit, T. H. (2005) · European Spine Journal · doi:10.1007/s00586-005-1003-6 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Polylactic acid (PLA) membrane—significance, synthesis, and applications: a review
More, N., Avhad, M. S., Utekar, S., & More, A. P. (2022) · Polymer Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s00289-022-04135-z · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Strong synergistic effects in PLA/PCL blends: impact of PLA matrix viscosity
Ostafinska, A., Fortelný, I., Hodan, J., Krejčíková, S., Nevoralová, M., Kredatusová, J., Kruliš, Z., Kotek, J., & Šlouf, M. (2017) · Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2017.01.015 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Rahmatabadi, D., Soltanmohammadi, K., Aberoumand, M., Soleyman, E., Ghasemi, I., Baniassadi, M., Abrinia, K., Bodaghi, M., & Baghani, M. (2023) · Physica Scripta · doi:10.1088/1402-4896/ad1957 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Mirasadi, K., Rahmatabadi, D., Ghasemi, I., Khodaei, M., Baniassadi, M., & Baghani, M. (2024) · Macromolecular Materials and Engineering · doi:10.1002/mame.202400038 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Mantso, T., Vasileiadis, S., Anestopoulos, I., et al. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-29018-0 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Scaffold Fabrication Techniques of Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Critical Review
Bhushan, S., Singh, S., Maiti, T. K., Sharma, C., Dutt, D., Sharma, S. K., Li, C., & Eldin, S. M. (2022) · Bioengineering · doi:10.3390/bioengineering9120728 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Shellman, Y. G., Howe, W. R., Miller, L. A., et al. (2007) · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5701114 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Wu, Y. Q., Qin, Y., Yuan, M., Li, L., Chen, H., Cao, J., & Yang, J. (2014) · Polymers for Advanced Technologies · doi:10.1002/pat.3332 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
McGilvray, K. C., Waldorff, E. I., Easley, J. T., et al. (2017) · The Spine Journal · doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2017.06.034 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Åkerlund, E., Diez-Escudero, A., Grzeszczak, A., & Persson, C. (2022) · Polymers · doi:10.3390/polym14163305 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
<i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> degradation of bioabsorbable PLLA spinal fusion cages
van Dijk, M., Tunc, D. C., Smit, T. H., Higham, P., Burger, E. H., & Wuisman, P. I. J. M. (2002) · Journal of Biomedical Materials Research · doi:10.1002/jbm.10466 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Aberoumand, M., Rahmatabadi, D., Soltanmohammadi, K., Soleyman, E., Ghasemi, I., Baniassadi, M., Abrinia, K., Bodaghi, M., & Baghani, M. (2023) · Sensors and Actuators A Physical · doi:10.1016/j.sna.2023.114572 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Enzymatic and Thermal Degradation of Poly(ε-caprolactone), Poly( d , l -lactide), and Their Blends
Sivalingam, G., Vijayalakshmi, S. P., & Madras, G. (2004) · Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research · doi:10.1021/ie049589r · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Correa‐Pacheco, Z. N., Solis, J. B., Gudiño, P. O., Sabino, M. A., Benitez, J. J., Barajas-Cervantes, A., Bautista‐Baños, S., & Colmenares, L. B. H. (2019) · Polymers · doi:10.3390/polym12010038 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
The Effects of Localized Heat on the Hallmarks of Cancer
Hannon, G., Tansi, F. L., Hilger, I., & Prina‐Mello, A. (2021) · Advanced Therapeutics · doi:10.1002/adtp.202000267 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
de Carvalho, J. R. G., Conde, G., Antonioli, M. L., Dias, P. D. P., Vasconcelos, R. D. O., Taboga, S. R., Canola, P. A., Chinelatto, M. A., Pereira, G. T., & Ferraz, G. D. C. (2020) · Polymer Journal · doi:10.1038/s41428-020-0308-y · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Thermal Osteonecrosis Caused by Bone Drilling in Orthopedic Surgery: A Literature Review
Timon, C., & Keady, C. (2019) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.5226 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Masarra, N.-A., Batistella, M., Quantin, J.-C., et al. (2022) · Materials · doi:10.3390/ma15030762 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Bianchi, M., Dorigato, A., Morreale, M., & Pegoretti, A. (2023) · Polymers · doi:10.3390/polym15040881 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Liu, H., He, H., & Huang, B. (2020) · Macromolecular Materials and Engineering · doi:10.1002/mame.202000295 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of a New Cage for Direct Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Kim, S. J., Lee, Y., Kim, Y.-B., et al. (2014) · Korean Journal of Spine · doi:10.14245/kjs.2014.11.3.145 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Aliotta, L., Gigante, V., Geerinck, R., Coltelli, M., & Lazzeri, A. (2023) · Polymer Testing · doi:10.1016/j.polymertesting.2023.107984 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Eco-friendly TPU/PLA Blends for Application as Shape-Memory 3D Printing Filaments
Shin, E. J., Jung, Y. S., Park, C. H., & Lee, S. (2023) · Journal of Polymers and the Environment · doi:10.1007/s10924-023-02799-w · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Stand-alone lumbar cage subsidence: A biomechanical sensitivity study of cage design and placement.
Calvo-Echenique, A., Cegoñino, J., Chueca, R., et al. (2018) · Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine · doi:10.1016/j.cmpb.2018.05.022 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Vilay, V., Mariatti, M., Ahmad, Z., Pasomsouk, K., & Todo, M. (2010) · Materials Science and Engineering: A · doi:10.1016/j.msea.2010.07.079 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Öztemur, J., & Yalçın-Eniş, İ. (2021) · Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B Applied Biomaterials · doi:10.1002/jbm.b.34846 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Mechanical, thermal properties and shape memory behaviors of PLA / PCL / PLA‐g‐GMA blends
Ye, G., Gu, T., Chen, B., Bi, H., & Hu, Y. (2023) · Polymer Engineering and Science · doi:10.1002/pen.26347 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Cyclic behaviors of amorphous shape memory polymers
Yu, K., Li, H., McClung, A. J. W., Tandon, G. P., Baur, J. W., & Qi, H. J. (2016) · Soft Matter · doi:10.1039/c5sm02781k · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Kong, D., Guo, A., Wu, H., et al. (2024) · Additive manufacturing · doi:10.1016/j.addma.2024.104050 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Wang, Y., Wang, Y., Wei, Q., Zhang, J., Lei, M., Li, M., & Li, D. (2021) · Journal of Polymer Research · doi:10.1007/s10965-021-02815-4 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Complications in Spinal Fusion Surgery: A Systematic Review of Clinically Used Cages
Veronesi, F., Sartori, M., Griffoni, C., et al. (2022) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm11216279 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
A systematic review of the use of expandable cages in the cervical spine
Elder, B. D., Lo, S.-F. L., Kosztowski, T. A., et al. (2015) · Neurosurgical Review · doi:10.1007/s10143-015-0649-8 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Yao, B., Zhu, Y., Xu, Z., Wu, Y., Yang, L., Liu, J., Shang, J., Fan, J., Ouyang, L., & Fan, H. (2023) · Polymer Engineering and Science · doi:10.1002/pen.26481 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Haroosh, H. J., Dong, Y., Jasim, S., et al. (2021) · Materials · doi:10.3390/ma14185344 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Development of Blends to Improve Flexibility of Biodegradable Polymers
Jordá-Reolid, M., Ibáñez-García, A., Catani, L., et al. (2022) · Polymers · doi:10.3390/polym14235223 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Kiani, P., Sedighi, M., Kasaeian-Naeini, M., & Jabbari, A. H. (2023) · Journal of Polymer Research · doi:10.1007/s10965-023-03651-4 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Li, A., Chen, X., Zhang, L., & Zhang, Y. (2022) · Materials · doi:10.3390/ma15248838 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Eryıldız, M. (2023) · Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance · doi:10.1007/s11665-023-07946-x · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Induction of hyperthermia using implanted electrodes.
Frazier, O. H., & Corry, P. M. (1984) · PubMed · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Daskalova, A., Ostrowska, B., Zhelyazkova, A., et al. (2018) · Applied Physics A · doi:10.1007/s00339-018-1831-y · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Preparation of biodegradable PLA/PCL composite filaments: effect of PLA content on strength
Qiu, H. M., Hou, K. W., Zhou, J. P., Liu, W. J., Wen, J., & Gu, Q. F. (2020) · IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering · doi:10.1088/1757-899x/770/1/012059 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Rojas-Rojas, L., Tozzi, G., & Guillén-Girón, T. (2023) · Life · doi:10.3390/life13112141 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Kim, Y., & Kim, W.-B. (2023) · Coatings · doi:10.3390/coatings13020232 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Yasin, N. M., Pancho, F., Yasin, M. N., van Impe, J. F. M., & Akkermans, S. (2024) · Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology · doi:10.3389/fbioe.2024.1355050 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Effects of Material Properties in Spinal Fusion Cage for Lumbar Vertebrae
Yahya, R., Shudin, M. L., Mazlan, M. H., et al. (2020) · IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering · doi:10.1088/1757-899x/834/1/012073 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Topology Optimization of Spinal Cage Designs for Improved Stress Distribution and Bone Graft Window
Eryıldız, M. (2023) · Sakarya University Journal of Science · doi:10.16984/saufenbilder.1295714 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Ngwenya, M., Gumede, T. P., Pérez Camargo, R. A., & Motloung, B. (2025) · Materials · doi:10.3390/ma18225172 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“This was attributed to the disruption of the PLA crystal structure by excess PCL, which hinders the effective chain arrangement [92].”
- Authors
- Eryildiz, M., Karakus, A., Demirci, M., Altintas Kadirhan, O., & Eksi Altan, M.
- Affiliations
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Istanbul Beykent University Istanbul Turkey
- Beykent University (TR)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Kırklareli University Kırklareli Turkey
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine Kırklareli University Kırklareli Turkey
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Yildiz Technical University Istanbul Turkey
- Venue
- Polymers for Advanced Technologies
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2025-03
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 3
- ISSN
- 1042-7147 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1581
- OpenAlex
- W4408321161
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 74
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 7
- FWCI
- 5.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Polymers for Advanced Technologies (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Beykent University Repository (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (123M748)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer composites and self-healing
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Keywords
- spinal fusion cages, PLA/PCL blends, 4D printing, shape memory polymers, biodegradable polymers, spinal implants, biodegradation, mechanical properties, wettability, shape recovery, minimally invasive spine surgery
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
