Biomechanical Response Analysis of Scaffold Implantation in Mandibular Defects and Research on Scaffold Selection

This study aims to optimize the structural design of porous titanium alloy scaffolds for mandibular defect repair. It investigates the impact of different scaffold structures on the biomechanical properties of both the scaffold and surrounding bone tissue. Finite element models of rabbit mandibular defects were first established. Custom porous titanium alloy scaffold models were subsequently designed using diamond (DI), cubic (C), and truncated cubic (TC) unit cell structures. Additionally, the structural design of the scaffold can be adjusted based on the mechanical properties of the cellular structure. A porous titanium alloy scaffold featuring a composite unit cell structure was developed. Finite element analysis was then performed to obtain the biomechanical response characteristics of both the scaffolds and the surrounding bone tissue at the defect sites. The unit cell structure significantly influences the stress, strain, and spatial distribution in both the scaffold and the surrounding bone tissue. Comparative analysis demonstrates that scaffolds with composite unit cell structures possess superior overall mechanical properties and deliver optimal biomechanical stimulation, thereby promoting new bone regeneration. These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the scaffold's structural design.