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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
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Plasma Polishing as a New Polishing Option to Reduce the Surface Roughness of Porous Titanium Alloy for 3D Printing
Published on: April 28, 2023
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Comparison In Vitro Study on the Interface between Skin and Bone Cell Cultures and Microporous Titanium Samples
Maxim Shevtsov1,2,3, Emil Pitkin4, Stephanie E Combs1
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Technische Universität München (TUM), Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 27, 2024
Summary
This study shows 3D-printed porous titanium implants promote tissue integration for amputees. Optimized pore sizes enhance both skin and bone cell adhesion, paving the way for infection-resistant osseointegrated prosthetics.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Percutaneous osseointegrated implants are crucial for limb amputees, requiring mechanical stability and infection prevention.
- Current biointegration methods struggle to establish a reliable natural barrier between implant, skin, and bone tissues.
- The Skin and Bone Integrated Pylon (SBIP) concept utilizes microporous structures for direct tissue ingrowth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vitro biological interactions of dermal fibroblasts and osteoblasts with 3D-printed titanium discs of varying porosity.
- To determine optimal pore sizes for dermal and bone tissue integration in percutaneous implants.
- To assess the potential of microporous titanium for creating infection-resistant, osseointegrated prosthetic pylons.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 3D-printed and sintered titanium discs with controlled pore sizes and volume fractions.
- In vitro cell viability assessment using MTT assays for dermal fibroblasts and MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.
- Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of gene expression for cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation markers.
Main Results:
- 3D-printed titanium discs exhibited low cytotoxicity to co-cultured cells over 14 days.
- Micropore sizes of 200–500 µm favored dermal fibroblast adhesion, indicated by integrin expression.
- Pore sizes of 400–800 µm promoted osteogenic differentiation markers in MC3T3-E1 cells.
- 3D printing allows for personalized implants with varied pore sizes for optimal skin and bone integration.
Conclusions:
- Porous titanium structures demonstrate significant biointegrative properties.
- Tailoring pore size within 3D-printed implants can optimize integration with both dermal and bone tissues.
- This approach holds promise for developing advanced, personalized, and infection-resistant osseointegrated prosthetic implants.
Keywords:
3D printingbone tissue engineeringfibroblastsosseointegrationosteoblastsscaffoldstitanium alloy
