Personalized Orbital Fracture Repair: Enhancing 3D-Printed Titanium Mesh with Biomimetic 3D-Printed HAP-COL...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Orbital wall fractures necessitate precise reconstruction to restore orbital volume and visual function.
• Bio-inert titanium implants require osteoconductive surface modifications for enhanced bone integration.
• Hydroxyapatite-collagen (HAP-COL) composites offer potential for osteoconductive surface modifications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of HAP-COL composites on titanium implants for orbital fracture repair.
• To compare a sprayed HAP coating with a robocasting-deposited, 3D-printed HAP-COL layer.

Main Methods:

• HAP-COL hybrid powder (4:1 mass ratio) was synthesized and characterized.
• Two implant configurations were tested: sprayed HAP coating (Sample 1) and 3D-printed HAP-COL layers (Sample 2).
• Cytotoxicity was assessed on human osteoblasts using MTT assay according to ISO 10993-5.

Main Results:

• Both samples demonstrated dose- and time-dependent cell viability within ISO 10993-5 limits.
• Sample 2 (3D-printed HAP-COL) consistently showed higher osteoblast viability than Sample 1 (sprayed HAP).
• Sample 2 viability ranged from 80.61% to 96.47%, outperforming Sample 1's 70.62% to 93.63%.

Conclusions:

• Both HAP-COL application techniques are biocompatible and meet safety limits.
• The 3D-printed robocast HAP-COL layer exhibits superior osteoblast viability and proliferation compared to sprayed coatings.
• 3D-printed HAP-COL coatings on titanium are promising for orbital reconstruction, enhancing cell survival and mitigating titanium's bio-inertness.