3D-printed PLA/HA composite structures as synthetic trabecular bone: A feasibility study using fused deposition...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Additive manufacturing enables customized biomedical products with complex designs.
• Current limitations exist in replicating intricate trabecular bone architecture due to printing resolution.
• Synthetic bone models are crucial for medical training and device testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) for fabricating synthetic bone models.
• To assess poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite (PLA/HA) composites for mimicking bone properties.
• To investigate the morphometric and mechanical performance of 3D printed trabecular bone models.

Main Methods:

• Three PLA/HA composite filaments (5-15 wt% HA) were developed.
• Scaled-up human trabecular bone models were printed using FDM.
• Micro-computed tomography, compression, and screw pull-out tests were performed for evaluation.

Main Results:

• FDM successfully reproduced trabecular architecture with a 2-4x scaling factor using PLA.
• HA incorporation slightly reduced morphological accuracy but enhanced mechanical properties.
• 3D printed PLA/HA models demonstrated comparable or superior strength to commercial synthetic bone models.

Conclusions:

• FDM and PLA/HA composites show potential for creating realistic synthetic bone models.
• Achieving high printing resolution is key for accurate trabecular morphology reproduction.
• These 3D printed models offer a viable alternative to existing synthetic bone materials.