Selective Laser Melting Fabrication of Porous Ti6Al4V Scaffolds With Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Architectures: Structural Features, Cytocompatibility, and Osteogenesis

Abstract

The relationship between pore architecture and structure performance needs to be explored, as well as confirm the optimized porous structure. Because of the linear correlation between constant C and pore architecture, triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) based porous structures could be a controllable model for the investigation of the optimized porous structure. In the present work, three types of TPMS porous scaffolds (S, D and G) combined with four constants (0.0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6) were designed, and built successfully via the selective laser melting (SLM) technology. The designed feature and mechanical property of porous scaffolds were investigated through mathematical method and compression test. And the manufactured samples were co-cultured with rMSCs for the compatibility study. The results indicated that the whole manufacturing procedure was good in controllability, repeatability, and accuracy. The linear correlation between the porosity of TPMS porous scaffolds and the constant C in equations was established. The different TPMS porous scaffolds possess the disparate feature in structure, mechanical property and cell compatibility. Comprehensive consideration of the structure features, mechanical property and biology performance, different TPMS structures should be applied in appropriate field. The results could guide the feasibility of apply the different TPMS architectures into the different part of orthopedic implants.

Design of 3D printing osteotomy block for foot based on triply periodic minimal surface

“…The strut structure of these surfaces exhibited periodic variation in space while maintaining characteristics such as smoothness and full connectivity (Lv et al 2022b;Pugliese and Graziosi 2023). Additionally, It contained curved channels that are highly beneficial for cell attachment and migration, thereby enhancing cell implantation rates of 3D printing (Lv et al 2022a).…”

“…In this study, eight triply-periodic minimal surface (TPMS)-based scaffolds were meticulously designed using specific trigonometric equations to ensure consistent porosity and unit cell count while exhibiting varying surface curvatures. When designing a porous structure, excessively high or low porosities were not conducive for application in porous implants; instead, selecting an appropriate porosity helped create a favorable environment for cell growth and facilitates ingrowth into both sides' cut surfaces of bones (Lv et al 2022a).…”

“…TPMS surfaces exhibit smoothness and interconnected pore heights, allowing for precise control over the overall structure through implicit functions (Li et al 2022). Consequently, It present an exceptional solution for designing and modeling porous structures in 3D printed bone grafts (Günther et al 2022;Lv et al 2022a;Shen et al 2023).…”

Designs, advancements, and applications of three-dimensional printed gyroid structures: A review

“…Lv et al 116 developed and optimized the mathematical equation between constant C and pore structure for different lattice structures (gyroid, diamond, and Fischer-Koch) with four different wall thicknesses. The selective laser melting method has been employed to manufacture porous scaffolds.…”

Definition, measurement, and function of pore structure dimensions of bioengineered porous bone tissue materials based on additive manufacturing: A review

“…In recent years, the pore structure based on triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) has emerged. It mainly involves the periodic extension of parametric surface sheets in three directions, culminating in the formation of walls in a 3D space state and a complete pore structure ( Kelly et al, 2019 ; Corona-Castuera et al, 2021 ; Lu et al, 2022a ; Lv et al, 2022 ). However, the design of irregular pore structures is more complex.…”