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Objective To study the micro-pore architecture and mechanical properties of porous titanium scaffolds with diamond molecule structure produced by 3D print technology,so as to guide the development of 3D-prinited porous titanium orthopedic implants.Methods Selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM) were used to fabricate porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds with diamond molecule structure.The micro-pore architectures of those scaffolds were observed using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM),and universal material testing machine was used to conduct compressive test on the scaffolds.Results Both SLM and EBM techniques had machining error and half-melted metal particles were found on the strut surface.The relative error of strut size produced by SLM and EMB was 20.9％-35.8％ and-9.1％-46.8％,respectively.The scaffold with strut width of 0.2 mm could not be produced by EBM.The compressive strength and elastic modulus of the scaffold fabricated by SLM was 99.7-192.6 MPa and 2.43-4.23 GPa,respectively.The compressive strength and elastic modulus of the scaffold fabricated by SLM was 39.5-96.9 MPa and 1.44-2.83 GPa,respectively.Conclusions The manufacturing precision of SLM is higher than that of EBM.Porosity is the main factor that affects the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the scaffolds.In the same process,with the increase of porosity,both the compressive strength and elastic modulus decrease.When the porosities are similar,the scaffolds fabricated by SLM possess higher compressive strength and elastic modulus than those by SLM.
RESUMEN
Objective To evaluate the feasibility of the porous titanium/chitosan/hydroxyapatite (Ti/Ch/HA) composite scaffold as a bone repair substitute.Methods Additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology was used to fabricate porous Ti scaffolds as supporting structures.Chitosan/hydroxyapatite (Ch/HA) sponge was prepared within the macro-pores of Ti scaffolds using freeze drying technology.Thus,a kind of composite porous Ti/Ch/HA scaffold with good cell affinity was obtained.Osteoblastic cells were seeded and cultured in pure porous Ti scaffolds and composite Ti/Ch/HA scaffolds for 7 days.The cellular morphology,seeding efficiency and proliferation were examined and compared between the 2 kinds of scaffolds using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and MTT assay.Results The SEM examination showed that the macro-pores of Ti/Ch/HA scaffolds were full of the composite sponge structure of Ch/HA,with a micropore size of 50 to 200 μm.Like the pure porous Ti scaffolds,composite Ti/Ch/HA ones have a compressive strength of 168.2 to 192.6 MPa,a yielding strength of 137.1 to 154.1 MPa,and a Young's modulus of 3.21 to 4.51 GPa.After culture for 7 days,a large number of flat cells adhered onto the surface of Ti scaffolds while the cells adhering onto the Ti/Ch/HA composite scaffolds were fusiform.The seeding efficiency of osteoblastic cells in the composite Ti/Ch/HA scaffolds (73.218％ ± 3.748％) was significantly higher than that in the pure porous Ti scaffolds (21.352％ ±4.365％) (P ＜0.05);the OD value of the composite Ti/Ch/HA scaffolds (0.783 ±0.043) was significantly higher than that of the pure porous Ti scaffolds (0.382 ± 0.036) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Ti/Ch/HA composite scaffolds can match human bone in mechanical properties.Compared with pure porous Ti scaffolds,the Ti/Ch/HA composite ones are more suitable for adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts,making them an ideal kind of bone repair substitute.