Lattice Structures in Additive Manufacturing for Biomedical Applications: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Architected porous lattice structures show promise for enhancing mechanical compatibility, osseointegration, and personalized medicine.
• Research is optimizing geometric features to mimic biological tissues, especially bone.
• Additive Manufacturing (AM) enables complex geometries unachievable by conventional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• Systematically review current research on AM lattice structures for biomedical applications.
• Identify common patterns, technological gaps, and future research opportunities.
• Focus on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) for bone scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology.
• Tailored PRISMA by prioritizing technical databases and engineering-specific criteria.
• Ensured methodological rigor and replicability in review phases.

Main Results:

• Lattice structures are used for load-bearing implants (e.g., Selective Laser Melting - SLM) and tissue regeneration scaffolds (e.g., Fused Filament Fabrication - FFF, Direct Ink Writing - DIW).
• Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS) are a common pattern for bone scaffold design.
• Significant interdisciplinary research highlights the potential of these structures.

Conclusions:

• AM offers significant potential for creating advanced lattice structures in biomedicine.
• Challenges remain in long-term in vivo validation, standardized testing (e.g., ISO standards), and clinical integration.
• Further research is needed to address these challenges and fully realize the clinical potential.