Computationally designed lattices with tuned properties for tissue engineering using 3D printing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Computational Modeling
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Designing effective tissue scaffolds involves balancing structural support with biological integration.
• Lattice structures offer tunable properties but require sophisticated modeling for optimization.
• Bone tissue engineering demands scaffolds with specific mechanical and porous characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a computational approach for modeling and evaluating lattice scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
• To quantify the relationships between lattice topology, design parameters, and scaffold properties.
• To compare different lattice topologies for their suitability in bone regeneration applications.

Main Methods:

• Generation of eight lattice topologies using beam-based unit cells with variable beam diameter and unit cell length.
• Finite element simulations to quantify elastic modulus, shear modulus, and permeability.
• Analysis of property scaling with porosity and surface-volume ratio.

Main Results:

• Elastic and shear moduli were found to scale with porosity.
• Permeability scales with porosity cubed over surface-volume ratio squared.
• Specific topologies exhibited distinct property profiles: Cube lattices favored high elastic moduli, while Octet lattices offered high shear moduli and surface-volume ratios with low permeability.

Conclusions:

• Lattice topology significantly influences scaffold properties, enabling specialization for specific tissue engineering needs.
• The computational method effectively models property trade-offs and facilitates scaffold design.
• Findings support the use of tailored lattice scaffolds in orthopedic applications, including 3D printed interbody cages for spinal fusion.