Fabrication of customized Ti6AI4V heterogeneous scaffolds with selective laser melting: Optimization of the architecture for orthopedic implant applications

Xuan Pei; Lina Wu; Haoyuan Lei; Changchun Zhou; Hongyuan Fan; Zhengyong Li; Boqing Zhang; Huan Sun; Xingyu Gui; Qing Jiang; Yujiang Fan; Xingdong Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.040

Fabrication of customized Ti6AI4V heterogeneous scaffolds with selective laser melting: Optimization of the architecture for orthopedic implant applications

Acta Biomater. 2021 May:126:485-495. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.040. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Authors

Xuan Pei¹, Lina Wu¹, Haoyuan Lei¹, Changchun Zhou², Hongyuan Fan³, Zhengyong Li⁴, Boqing Zhang¹, Huan Sun¹, Xingyu Gui¹, Qing Jiang⁴, Yujiang Fan⁵, Xingdong Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, China.
² National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: changchunzhou@scu.edu.cn.
³ School of Mechanical Engineering, Sichuan University, 610065, Chengdu, China.
⁴ West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041,Chengdu, China.
⁵ National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, China; College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: fan_yujiang@scu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33766797
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.040

Abstract

Orthopedic implants with heterogeneous porous structures were known as ideal bone osteointegration. This research introduced the selective laser melting (SLM), finite element analysis (FEA), and a hydrothermal process (HT) for manufacturing a three-level heterogeneous porous structure. The macroporous structure was designed via CAD and micropores were tuned via laser power regulation. A nano-size layer of hydroxyapatite crystals was coated by an HT process. The mechanical properties were reinforced via a core-shell structure with core reinforcement. The existence of micropores and nano-hydroxyapatite coating enhanced the in vitro proliferation of preosteoblasts and osteogenic cellular behaviors of rBMSCs. Thus, the three-level heterogeneous porous titanium implants could inspire researchers with potential clue of cyto-implant interaction mechanism, therefore building ideal orthopedic implants with accelerated osteointegration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Porous structures of titanium implants play an important role in bone tissue regeneration; The geometrical environment influence cell behaviour and bone tissue ingrowth in all macro-/micro-/nanoscale. In this study, a novel method to fabricate heterogeneous scaffolds and its macro-/micro-/nanoscopic structures were studied. A CAD model was used to obtain the macroscopic structure and the insufficient laser power was introduced for porous microstructure. Therefore, a layer of nano hydroxyapatite was coated via hydrothermal process. Cytoproliferation and cytodifferentiation results indicated that a integrity of regular/irregular, macro-/micro-/nanoscale porous structure had advance in recruiting stem cells and promoting differentiation. This research is beneficial to the development of bone implants with better bone regeneration ability.

Keywords: Bone regeneration; Heterogeneous scaffold; Hydroxyapatite coating; Selected laser melting; Titanium alloy implants.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Lasers
Osteogenesis
Porosity
Prostheses and Implants*
Titanium*

Substances

Titanium