No abstract

Inorganic scaffolds with high interconnected porosity based on bioactive glasses and ceramics are prime candidates for applications in bone tissue engineering. These materials however exhibit relatively low fracture strength and high brittleness. A simple and effective approach to improve the toughness is to combine the basic scaffold structure with polymer coatings or through the formation of interpenetrating polymer-bioactive ceramic microstructures. The polymeric phase can additionally serve as a carrier for growth factors and therapeutic drugs, thus adding biological functionalities. The present paper reviews the state-of-the art in the field of polymer coated and infiltrated bioactive inorganic scaffolds. Based on the notable combination of bioactivity, improved mechanical properties and drug or growth factor delivery capability, this scaffold type is a candidate for bone and osteochondral regeneration strategies. Remaining challenges for the improvement of the materials are discussed and opportunities to broaden the application potential of this scaffold type are also highlighted.

Component production via laser‐based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF‐LB/M) is becoming reality for multiple applications. Especially for sophisticated parts, as in case of gas turbines, assurance of repeatable properties involves control of process and machine parameters. PBF‐LB/M is used to build configurable open‐porous structures—designed materials (DMs)—out of the high temperature superalloy Haynes 282 with relative densities from 35 % to 65 % . The objective is investigating positioning influence and process stability based on their relative densities in discrete scan fields and build jobs. As DMs made from Haynes 282 are not yet scientifically investigated, first the process boundaries are identified. The used PBF‐LB/M machine—EOS M 400‐4—works with four lasers in four quadrants—a quadrant benchmarking is carried out. The experiment is repeated in a second build job. Scatter is identified in quadrant and build job benchmarking. A further aspect under investigation is positioning within laser quadrants. However, keeping laser and parameter combinations constant, sample locations are assessed. A relative density dependency on the laser deflection angle—as a positional measure—is observed. The results of positioning influence and scatter are used to formulate a tolerance equation for relative densities of DMs.

The shells/coats of nuts and seeds are often very hard to crack. This is particularly the case with Macadamia seed coats, known to exhibit astoundingly high strength and toughness. We performed an extensive materials science characterization of the complex hierarchical structure of these coats, using light and scanning electron microscopy in 2D as well as microCT for 3D characterization. We differentiate nine hierarchical levels that characterize the structure ranging from the whole fruit on the macroscopic scale down to the molecular scale. From a biological viewpoint, understanding the hierarchical structure may elucidate why it is advantageous for these seed coats to be so difficult to break. From an engineering viewpoint, microstructure characterization is important for identifying features that contribute to the high strength and cracking resistance of these objects. This is essential for revealing the underlying structure-function-relationships. Such information will help us develop engineering materials and lightweight-structures with improved fracture and puncture resistance.

The tough bulk of dentin in teeth supports enamel, creating cutting and grinding biostructures with superior failure resistance that is not fully understood. Synchrotron-based diffraction methods, utilizing micro- and nanofocused X-ray beams, reveal that the nm-sized mineral particles aligned with collagen are precompressed and that the residual strains vanish upon mild annealing. We show the link between the mineral nanoparticles and known damage propagation trajectories in dentin, suggesting a previously overlooked compression-mediated toughening mechanism.