Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene/Titanium-Hybrid Implant for Bone-Defect Replacement.

Aleksey V Maksimkin,Sergey D Kaloshkin,Fedor S Senatov,Tarek Dayyoub,Kirill Niaza

doi:10.3390/ma13133010

Abstract

A hybrid implant with a structure mimicking that of natural bone was developed. Titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V prepared with three-dimensional (3D)-printing technology was used to simulate the cortical-bone layer. The mismatch in the mechanical properties of bone and titanium alloy was solved by creating special perforations in the titanium’s surface. Porous ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with high osteogenous properties was used to simulate the cancellous-bone tissue. A method for creating a porous UHMWPE structure inside the titanium reinforcement is proposed. The porous UHMWPE was studied with scanning electron microscope (SEM) to confirm that the pores that formed were open, interconnected, and between 50 and 850 μm in size. Mechanical-compression tests done on the obtained UHMWPE/titanium-hybrid-implant samples showed that their mechanical properties simulated those of natural bone.

Highlights

Reconstructing the structural integrity of damaged bone-tissue sections is currently considered a major problem
ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) scaffold demonstrated that the pores were open and interconnected, as shown in Figure the UHMWPE/titanium-hybrid implantparticles
Porous UHMWPE scaffold;(c) halved sample of titanium porous UHMWPE scaffold; (c) halved sample of titanium reinforcement containing porous UHMWPE scaffold;(d) scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of porous UHMWPE scaffold those of natural bone

Summary

Introduction

Reconstructing the structural integrity of damaged bone-tissue sections is currently considered a major problem. Used materials for making bone implants are metals and their alloys, ceramics, and various kinds of polymers; each has its pros and cons. Metals and their alloys have good strength, excellent resistance to fatigue, and high ductility, which allow them to be used as a replacement for highly loaded bone tissue. Their high elastic modulus may lead to stress shielding as a result of bone-tissue resorption [1]. As with metallic materials, ceramics’ high elastic modulus can lead to stress shielding

Methods

Results

Conclusion