Abstract
Emerging 3D printing technologies are enabling the rapid fabrication of complex designs with favorable properties such as mechanically efficient lattices for biomedical applications. However, there is a lack of biocompatible materials suitable for printing complex lattices constructed from beam-based unit cells. Here, we investigate the design and mechanics of biocompatible lattices fabricated with cost-effective stereolithography. Mechanical testing experiments include material characterization, lattices rescaled with differing unit cell numbers, topology alterations, and hierarchy. Lattices were consistently printed with 5% to 10% lower porosity than intended. Elastic moduli for 70% porous body-centered cube topologies ranged from 360 MPa to 135 MPa, with lattices having decreased elastic moduli as unit cell number increased. Elastic moduli ranged from 101 MPa to 260 MPa based on unit cell topology, with increased elastic moduli when a greater proportion of beams were aligned with the loading direction. Hierarchy provided large pores for improved nutrient transport and minimally decreased lattice elastic moduli for a fabricated tissue scaffold lattice with 7.72 kN/mm stiffness that is suitable for bone fusion. Results demonstrate the mechanical feasibility of biocompatible stereolithography and provide a basis for future investigations of lattice building blocks for diverse 3D printed designs.
Highlights
Current polymer 3D printing approaches, such as polyjet 3D printing, are limited in reliably fabricating structures [13]
This study investigated the mechanics of lattice designs printed using a biocompatible stereolithography process and their potential use as building blocks for biomedical applications
When comparing simulation to empirical results, the FX cube has the greatest discrepancy with an elastic modulus about 30 MPa higher than predicted, which suggests mechanical behavior may be occurring during these tests not captured by the model. These results demonstrate that the stereolithography process is more consistent in producing mechanically functional lattices in comparison to polyjet processes that greatly deviate from simulation results [13], especially for Cube topology
Summary
Current polymer 3D printing approaches, such as polyjet 3D printing, are limited in reliably fabricating structures [13]. Stereolithography 3D printing, in comparison, may output more consistent. Designs 2020, 4, 22 in comparison, may output more consistent microscale lattice structures [14]. We investigate how designlattice decisions influence mechanics of investigate lattices produced with stereolithography printing, with microscale structures [14]. We how design decisions influence mechanics testing conducted using biocompatible methacrylic that is potentially suitable for of lattices produced withastereolithography printing, acid-based with testingresin conducted using a biocompatible bone tissue engineering [15,16,17]. Methacrylic acid-based resin that is potentially suitable for bone tissue engineering [15,16,17]. These design possibilities processes have limitations in enable construction of mechanically efficient topologies for tissue scaffolds with porosities of 50% to
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