title: Functional response of osteoblasts in functionally gradient titanium alloy mesh arrays processed by 3D additive manufacturing.
abstract: We elucidate here the osteoblasts functions and cellular activity in 3D printed interconnected porous architecture of functionally gradient Ti-6Al-4V alloy mesh structures in terms of cell proliferation and growth, distribution of cell nuclei, synthesis of proteins (actin, vinculin, and fibronectin), and calcium deposition. Cell culture studies with pre-osteoblasts indicated that the interconnected porous architecture of functionally gradient mesh arrays was conducive to osteoblast functions. However, there were statistically significant differences in the cellular response depending on the pore size in the functionally gradient structure. The interconnected porous architecture contributed to the distribution of cells from the large pore size (G1) to the small pore size (G3), with consequent synthesis of extracellular matrix and calcium precipitation. The gradient mesh structure significantly impacted cell adhesion and influenced the proliferation stage, such that there was high distribution of cells on struts of the gradient mesh structure. Actin and vinculin showed a significant difference in normalized expression level of protein per cell, which was absent in the case of fibronectin. Osteoblasts present on mesh struts formed a confluent sheet, bridging the pores through numerous cytoplasmic extensions. The gradient mesh structure fabricated by electron beam melting was explored to obtain fundamental insights on cellular activity with respect to osteoblast functions.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Nune
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA. Electronic address: dmisra2@utep.edu.
authors.forename: R D K
authors.initials: RDK
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.affiliation: Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D016062:Porosity; D011208:Powders; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D016596:Vinculin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000497:Alloys; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D005353:Fibronectins; D011208:Powders; D016596:Vinculin; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); D014025:Titanium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Gradient mesh structure; Osteoblasts; Ti6Al4V