Porous Scaffold Design Based on Minimal Surfaces: Development and Assessment of Variable Architectures

Rita Ambu,Anna Morabito

doi:10.3390/sym10090361

Abstract

In tissue engineering, biocompatible porous scaffolds that try to mimic the features and function of the bone are of great relevance. In this paper, an effective method for the design of 3D porous scaffolds is applied to the modelling of structures with variable architectures. These structures are of interest since they are more similar to the stochastic configuration of real bone with respect to architectures made of a unit cell replicated in three orthogonal directions, which are usually considered for this kind of applications. This property configures them as, potentially, more suitable to satisfy simultaneously the biological requirements and those relative to the mechanical strength. The procedure implemented is based on the implicit surface modelling method and the use of a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS), specifically, the Schwarz’s Primitive (P) minimal surface, whose geometry was considered for the development of scaffolds with different configurations. The representative structures modelled were numerically analysed by means of finite element analysis (FEA), considering them made of a biocompatible titanium alloy. The architectures considered were thus assessed in terms of the relationship between the geometrical configuration and the mechanical response to compression loading.

Highlights

A field of interest in tissue engineering (TE), the discipline whose main aim is to replace damaged tissue and organs, relates to bone repairing [1]
Themethodology methodologydescribed described in the previous paragraph was to used to representative obtain representative of scaffolds with different geometrical characteristics
The procedure for the modelling of porous structures based on the P-surface implemented, allowed the design of representative models made of cells whose geometrical characteristics vary in 3D space according to different mathematical distributions, potentially useful to accomplish the different biological and mechanical requirements for bone scaffold applications

Summary

Introduction

A field of interest in tissue engineering (TE), the discipline whose main aim is to replace damaged tissue and organs, relates to bone repairing [1]. Generally termed as engineering scaffolds, can be used as bone replacement when other procedures, such as autologous bone grafting, are not feasible or involve high risk for the patient. Engineering scaffolds have to provide an optimum environment for cells to develop and culture into tissues meeting biological, physical, and mechanical properties of the replaced tissues. Large and interconnected pores are preferred for bone ingrowth leading to structures with high porosity; on the other hand, the mechanical properties have to be similar to those of the bone to avoid mismatches with the surrounding tissues which can affect the operation or longevity of the implant as a result of the effect known as stress shielding [2]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion