3D printed Ti6Al4V implant surface promotes bone maturation and retains a higher density of less aged osteocytes at the bone-implant interface.
Journal article, 2016

For load-bearing orthopaedic applications, metal implants having an interconnected pore structure exhibit the potential to facilitate bone ingrowth and the possibility for reducing the stiffness mismatch between the implant and bone, thus eliminating stress-shielding effects. 3D printed solid and macro-porous Ti6Al4V implants were evaluated after six-months healing in adult sheep femora. The ultrastructural composition of the bone-implant interface was investigated using Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy, in a correlative manner. The mineral crystallinity and the mineral-to-matrix ratios of the interfacial tissue and the native bone were found to be similar. However, lower Ca/P ratios, lower carbonate content, but higher proline, phenylalanine and tyrosine levels indicated that the interfacial tissue remained less mature. Bone healing was more advanced at the porous implant surface (vs. the solid implant surface) based on the interfacial tissue ν1 CO3(2-)/ν2 PO4(3-) ratio, phenylalanine and tyrosine levels approaching those of the native bone. The mechanosensing infrastructure in bone, the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network, retained ∼40% more canaliculi per osteocyte lacuna, i.e., a 'less aged' morphology at the interface. The osteocyte density per mineralised surface area was ∼36-71% higher at the interface after extended healing periods.

Osseointegration

Electron microscopy

Raman spectroscopy

Osteocyte

3D printing

Ti6Al4V

Author

Furqan A. Shah

University of Gothenburg

Anders Snis

Arcam AB

Aleksandar Matic

Chalmers, Physics, Condensed Matter Physics

Peter Thomsen

University of Gothenburg

Anders Palmquist

University of Gothenburg

Acta Biomaterialia

1742-7061 (ISSN) 18787568 (eISSN)

Vol. 30 357-367

Subject Categories

Dentistry

Other Physics Topics

DOI

10.1016/j.actbio.2015.11.013

PubMed

26577985

More information

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4/6/2022 1