Additively manufactured biodegradable porous metals

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Large bony defects pose significant challenges in orthopedic surgery due to a lack of ideal bone substitutes.
• Additively manufactured (AM) biodegradable porous metals represent a promising advancement for bone implant development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of AM biodegradable porous metals for orthopedic applications.
• To analyze the impact of material type, processing, geometrical design, and post-treatments on implant performance.
• To identify knowledge gaps and future research directions for optimizing these materials.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on AM biodegradable porous metals (Mg, Fe, Zn, and alloys).
• Analysis of factors influencing mechanical properties, biodegradation, biocompatibility, and bone regeneration.
• Evaluation of geometrical design's role in tailoring implant characteristics.

Main Results:

• AM biodegradable porous metals offer tunable multi-scale geometry, mimicking bone structure and properties.
• Interconnected porous structures enhance cell adhesion, proliferation, and bony ingrowth.
• Geometrical design flexibility allows control over biodegradation for optimal healing and eventual disappearance.

Conclusions:

• AM biodegradable porous metals show significant potential as ideal bone implants due to their customizable nature.
• Further research is needed to fully exploit geometrical design flexibility for enhanced performance.
• Addressing knowledge gaps is crucial for successful clinical adoption in orthopedic applications.