Synthesis, structure, and properties of carbon/carbon composites artificial rib for chest wall reconstruction

Abstract

In this work, braided carbon fiber reinforced carbon matrix composites (3D-C/C composites) are prepared by chemical vapor infiltration process. Their composite structure, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and in vivo experiments are investigated and compared with those of traditional 2.5D-C/C composites and titanium alloys TC4. The results show that 3D-C/C composites are composed of reinforced braided carbon fiber bundles and pyrolytic carbon matrix and provide 51% open pores with a size larger than 100 μm for tissue adhesion and growth. The Young’s modulus of 3D-C/C composites is about 5 GPa, much smaller than those of 2.5D-C/C composites and TC4, while close to the autogenous bone. 3D-C/C composites have a higher tensile strength (167 MPa) and larger elongation (5.0%) than 2.5D-C/C composites (81 MPa and 0.7%), and do not show obvious degradation after 1 × 106 cyclic tensile loading. The 3D-C/C composites display good biocompatibility and have almost no artifacts on CT imaging. The in vivo experiment reveals that 3D-C/C composites artificial ribs implanted in dogs do not show displacement or fracture in 1 year, and there are no obvious proliferation and inflammation in the soft tissues around 3D-C/C composites implant. Our findings demonstrate that 3D-C/C composites are suitable for chest wall reconstruction and present great potentials in artificial bones.

Trachea repair using an autologous pericardial patch combined with a 3D carbon fiber stent: A case report

“…Patch floating would have occurred if we had performed trachea repair with an autologous pericardial patch alone because of the large-sized defect, and tracheal stenosis and obstruction can easily occur in the late postoperative period. Therefore, combining the results of Aria's study with our own experience with 3D carbon fiber reconstruction implants (6)(7)(8), we designed a customized 3D carbon fiber stent outside the pericardial patch. The floating of the patch and tracheal stenosis were avoided by applying stent traction.…”

Repair of Large-Scale Rib Defects Based on Steel-Reinforced Concrete-Designed Biomimetic 3D-Printed Scaffolds with Bone-Mineralized Microenvironments

“…The unavailability of ideal 3D-printed BBS poses a great challenge to the reconstruction of the bony structure in cases of extensive chest wall defects. , On the basis of the design concepts of steel-reinforced concrete, this study developed an innovative 3D-printed BBS with controllable three-dimensional morphology, proper mechanical properties, good biocompatibility and biodegradability, porous structure suitable for cell loading, and a biomimetic OIS microenvironment. The sPG was successfully fabricated by integrating CAD, 3D-printing, cast-molding, and freeze-drying technologies.…”

“…13 However, the uncontrollable threedimensional (3D) morphology and inferior mechanical properties of the scaffold were unfavorable for the immediate repair and functional reconstruction of rib defects. Tan et al constructed a rib-regenerated biomimetic scaffold with good mechanical properties using braided carbon fiber, 14 but the low porosity and undegradable character of the scaffold failed to load enough cells for satisfactory bone regeneration. Although the critical-scale bone defects could be successfully repaired by combining decellularized bone matrix or polymers, 15 so far, the repair of large-scale rib defects has very limited breakthrough.…”