Characterization of selective laser sintered hydroxyapatite based biocomposite structures for bone replacement

Hao, L., Savalani, M.M., Zhang, Y., Tanner, K.E. , Heath, R.J. and Harris, R.A. (2007) Characterization of selective laser sintered hydroxyapatite based biocomposite structures for bone replacement. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 463(2084), pp. 1857-1869. (doi: 10.1098/rspa.2007.1854)

Abstract

Integration of the bone into the implant is highly desirable for the long-term performance of the implant. The development of a bone-implant interface is influenced by the surface morphology and roughness, surface wettability and porosity of the implants. This study characterizes these important properties of a hydroxyapatite-based biocomposite structure fabricated by selective laser sintering (SLS) with a comparison to a moulded specimen. The sintered specimens exhibited a rougher surface with open surface pores and a highly interconnected internal porous structure. It was shown that the characteristics of the powder particlse used in the SLS provided a more influential means to modify the surface morphology and the features of the internal pores than laser parameter variation. The correlation of wettability and porous structure shows that alghough surface open pores could help cell ingrowth and bone regeneration, they resulted in a poorer wettability of the materials, which may not encourage initial cell attachment and adhesion. The potential solution to improve the wettability and cell anchorage is discussed.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: selective laser sintering; hydroxyapatite; surface roughness; wettability; porosity; biocomposite structure
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tanner, Professor Kathleen
• Authors: Hao, L., Savalani, M.M., Zhang, Y., Tanner, K.E., Heath, R.J., and Harris, R.A.
• Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General); T Technology > T Technology (General)
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Journal Name: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
• ISSN: 1364-5021
• ISSN (Online): 1471-2946