Comparative Hydrodynamic Analysis and Optimization of Gyroid and Diamond Scaffolds with Functionally Graded Porosity

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Bone-repair scaffolds require optimal hydrodynamic and biomechanical properties for effective tissue regeneration.
• Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS) offer complex architectures with potential for advanced scaffold design.
• Understanding fluid flow and mechanical stresses within scaffolds is crucial for predicting cellular response and bone ingrowth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To numerically investigate the hydrodynamic and biomechanical performance of Gyroid and Diamond TPMS bone-repair scaffolds.
• To evaluate the impact of uniform and functionally graded porosity on scaffold performance.
• To determine the potential of TPMS scaffolds for optimizing the cellular microenvironment.

Main Methods:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to analyze fluid flow characteristics.
• Key parameters evaluated include permeability, pressure drop, and Wall Shear Stress (WSS) distribution.
• Scaffolds with varying porosity levels (40-70%) and gradients were computationally modeled.

Main Results:

• Gyroid scaffolds exhibited superior permeability and more uniform WSS distribution compared to Diamond scaffolds.
• Functionally graded porosity (40-60%) effectively reduced pressure surges and optimized WSS for cell differentiation.
• A 70% porosity in Gyroid scaffolds resulted in a 277% increase in permeability.

Conclusions:

• TPMS architectures, particularly Gyroid, offer significant advantages for bone-repair scaffold design.
• Functionally graded porosity is a key strategy for optimizing scaffold performance and cellular response.
• These findings provide a theoretical foundation for designing advanced TPMS scaffolds for bone regeneration.