title: Freeform extrusion fabrication of titanium fiber reinforced 13-93 bioactive glass scaffolds.
abstract: Although implants made with bioactive glass have shown promising results for bone repair, their application in repairing load-bearing long bone is limited due to their poor mechanical properties in comparison to human bone. This work investigates the freeform extrusion fabrication of bioactive silicate 13-93 glass scaffolds reinforced with titanium (Ti) fibers. A composite paste prepared with 13-93 glass and Ti fibers (~16µm in diameter and lengths varying from ~200µm to ~2 mm) was extruded through a nozzle to fabricate scaffolds (0-90° filament orientation pattern) on a heated plate. The sintered scaffolds measured pore sizes ranging from 400 to 800µm and a porosity of ~50%. Scaffolds with 0.4vol% Ti fibers measured fracture toughness of ~0.8MPam1/2and a flexural strength of ~15MPa. 13-93 glass scaffolds without Ti fibers had a toughness of ~0.5MPam1/2and a strength of ~10MPa. The addition of Ti fibers increased the fracture toughness of the scaffolds by ~70% and flexural strength by ~40%. The scaffolds' biocompatibility and their degradation in mechanical properties in vitro were assessed by immersing the scaffolds in a simulated body fluid over a period of one to four weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USA.
authors.forename: Albin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USA. Electronic address: kolank@mst.edu.
authors.forename: Krishna C R
authors.initials: KCR
authors.lastname: Kolan
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USA.
authors.forename: Ming C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leu
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hilmas
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: C553965:13-93 bioactive glass; C101914:titanium fiber; D014025:Titanium
keywords: 13–93 bioactive glass; Bone tissue repair; Metal fiber reinforced glass composite; Scaffold degradation; Titanium fiber