Experimental and computational characterization of designed and fabricated 50:50 PLGA porous scaffolds for human trabecular bone applications.
The present study utilizes image-based computational methods and indirect solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technique to design and fabricate porous scaffolds, and then computationally estimates their elastic modulus and yield stress with experimental validation. 50:50 Poly (lactide-co-glycolide acid) (50:50 PLGA) porous scaffolds were designed using an image-based design technique, fabricated using indirect SFF technique, and characterized using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and mechanical testing. Micro-CT data was further used to non-destructively predict the scaffold elastic moduli and yield stress using a voxel-based finite element (FE) method, a technique that could find application in eventual scaffold quality control. Micro-CT data analysis confirmed that the fabricated scaffolds had controlled pore sizes, orthogonally interconnected pores and porosities which were identical to those of the designed files. Mechanical tests revealed that the compressive modulus and yield stresses were in the range of human trabecular bone. The results of FE analysis showed potential stress concentrations inside of the fabricated scaffold due to fabrication defects. Furthermore, the predicted moduli and yield stresses of the FE analysis showed strong correlations with those of the experiments. In the present study, we successfully fabricated scaffolds with designed architectures as well as predicted their mechanical properties in a nondestructive manner.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Eiji
E
Saito
Heesuk
H
Kang
Juan M
JM
Taboas
Alisha
A
Diggs
Colleen L
CL
Flanagan
Scott J
SJ
Hollister
D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008954:Models, Biological; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D016062:Porosity; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
D018786:Bone Substitutes; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid