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Process Development of a Generative Method for Partial and Controlled Integration of Active Substances into
Lena Burger1,2, Achim Conzelmann1,2, Sven Ulrich1,2
1Institute of Materials Science and Engineering Tuttlingen (IWAT), Campus Tuttlingen, Furtwangen University, 78532 Tuttlingen, Germany.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 14, 2023
Summary
A novel additive manufacturing (AM) process precisely integrates antibacterial silver hydrogel into porous titanium implants. This bioprinting approach enables controlled drug delivery, enhancing implant functionality and offering an alternative to traditional coating methods.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Additive Manufacturing
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Current methods for integrating active ingredients into porous implant structures often lack precision.
- Controlling porosity and surface conditions is crucial for effective drug integration and release.
- Additive manufacturing (AM) offers potential for creating complex, tailored implant structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and optimize an AM process for the partial integration of active ingredients into open-porous titanium matrix structures.
- To investigate the impact of surface conditions on the wetting behavior of the active ingredient solution.
- To establish a reproducible active ingredient delivery system for potential implant applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an open-porous β-titanium matrix structure using selective laser melting (SLM).
- Preparation of a silver-containing alginate hydrogel as the active ingredient.
- Modification of a fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer for precise, bioprinting-based application of the hydrogel.
- Evaluation of surface conditions through contact angle measurements to optimize substrate wetting.
- Characterization of pore volume filling efficiency.
Main Results:
- The developed AM process successfully integrated the silver-containing hydrogel into the titanium matrix.
- Optimal surface conditions were identified to enhance the wetting behavior of the hydrogel solution on the titanium substrate.
- The modified FDM printer allowed precise control over the position and volume of the applied drug solution.
- The process achieved up to 95% pore volume filling of the titanium matrix.
Conclusions:
- A novel AM-based bioprinting process enables precise, partial integration of active ingredients into porous titanium structures.
- This method offers a customizable and reproducible drug delivery system for implants.
- The developed technique provides a significant advancement over conventional methods like dip coating, enabling targeted drug carrier application.
