The potential of the three-dimensional printed titanium mesh implant for cranioplasty surgery applications: Biomechanical behaviors and surface properties

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C 2019-04, Vol.97, p.412-419
• Main Authors: Huang, Min-Tsan, Juan, Po-Kai, Chen, Shyuan-Yow, Wu, Chia-Jen, Wen, Shih-Cheng, Cho, Yung-Chieh, Huang, Mao-Suan, Chou, Hsin-Hua, Ou, Keng-Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biomaterials; Biomechanical behavior; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomechanics; Biomedical materials; Circularity; Computer simulation; Contact angle; Contact stresses; Craniotomy - instrumentation; Elastic Modulus; Finite Element Analysis; Finite element method; Humans; Materials science; Materials Testing; Microstructure; Porosity; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - instrumentation; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Scanning electron microscopy; Silica; Skull; Skull - diagnostic imaging; Skull - surgery; Stress analysis; Stress concentration; Stress distribution; Surface Properties; Surgery; Surgical implants; Surgical Mesh; Thickness; Three dimensional printing; Ti cranial mesh implant; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Transplants & implants; Wettability; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.11.075

The aim of the present study was to investigate the biomechanical behaviors of the pre-shaped titanium (PS-Ti) cranial mesh implants with different pore structures and thicknesses as well as the surface characteristics of the three-dimensional printed Ti (3DP-Ti) cranial mesh implant. The biomechanical behaviors of the PS-Ti cranial mesh implants with different pore structures (square, circular and triangular) and thicknesses (0.2, 0.6 and 1 mm) were simulated using finite element analysis. Surface properties of the 3DP-Ti cranial mesh implant were performed by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and static contact angle goniometer. It was found that the stress distribution and peak Von Mises stress of the PS-Ti cranial mesh implants significantly decreased at the thickness of 1 mm. The PS-Ti mesh implant with the circular pore structure created a relatively lower Von Mises stress on the bone defect area as compared to the PS-Ti mesh implant with the triangular pore structure and square pore structure. Moreover, the spherical-like Ti particle structures were formed on the surface of the 3DP-Ti cranial mesh implant. The microstructure of the 3DP-Ti mesh implant was composed of α and rutile-TiO2 phases. For wettability evaluation, the 3DP-Ti cranial mesh implant possessed a good hydrophilicity surface. Therefore, the 3DP-Ti cranial mesh implant with the thickness of 1 mm and circular pore structure is a promising biomaterial for cranioplasty surgery applications. •The Von Mises stress significantly decreased as the Ti mesh implants with the thickness of 1 mm.•The Ti mesh implant with the circular pore structure exhibited a relatively lower Von Mises stress.•The microstructure of the 3D printed Ti mesh implant was composed of α and rutile-TiO2 phases.•The 3D printed Ti mesh implant possessed a well hydrophilicity surface.