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Fabrication of open-cellular (porous) titanium alloy implants: osseointegration, vascularization and preliminary human trials

钛合金多孔植入物: 骨整合、 血管化和临床实验

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Abstract

In this study we describe the fabrication of a variety of open-cellular titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) implants, both reticular mesh and foam structures, using electron beam melting (EBM). These structures allow for the elimination of stress shielding by adjusting the porosity (or density) to produce an elastic modulus (or stiffness) to match that of both soft (trabecular) and hard (cortical) bone, as well as allowing for bone cell ingrowth, increased cell density, and all-matrix interactions; the latter involving the interplay between bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) and osteoblast functions. The early formation and characterization of elementary vascular structures in an aqueous hydrogel matrix are illustrated. Preliminary results for both animal (sheep) and human trials for a number of EBM-fabricated, and often patient-specific Tialloy implants are also presented and summarized. The results, while preliminary, support the concept and development of successful, porous, engineered “living” implants.

摘要

本文采用电子束增材(EBM)制造技术制备了多种具有开放孔隙结构的多孔钛合金(Ti-6Al-4V)植入物, 包括网状和泡沫状结构. 该多孔钛合金植入物可以通过调节孔隙率(或密度)降低其弹性模量(或刚度)以减轻 “应力屏蔽” 效应, 实现与软(小梁)和硬(皮质)骨的弹性模量(或刚度)匹配; 同时还可以促进骨组织长入, 增加细胞密度和细胞外基质间的相互作用, 后者涉及骨形态发生蛋白(BMP-2)和成骨细胞功能之间的相互影响. 总结了在水性水凝胶基质中初级血管结构的早期形成和特征, 报道了EBM技术制备的个性化钛合金植体在动物(羊)和人体临床试验的初步结果. 本文结果为钛合金多孔材料作为组织工程“活性”植入物的应用可行性研究提供了有力支持.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by the Ministry of Science and Technology Project (2017YFC1104900 and 2016YFC1102601) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51271182 and 51631007), Chinese Academy of Sciences Project (QYZDJ-SSW-JSC031), the Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering (Nune KC and Misra RDK), and the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (Correa-Rodriguez VL and Murr LE) at the University of Texas at El Paso.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Shujun Li  (李述军), Wentao Hou  (侯文韬), Yulin Hao  (郝玉琳) & Rui Yang  (杨锐)

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, 710032, China

    Xiaokang Li  (李小康) & Zheng Guo  (郭征)

  3. Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA

    Krishna C. Nune, R. Devesh K. Misra, Victor L. Correa-Rodriguez & Lawrence E. Murr

Authors
  1. Shujun Li  (李述军)
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  2. Xiaokang Li  (李小康)
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  3. Wentao Hou  (侯文韬)
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  6. Victor L. Correa-Rodriguez
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  7. Zheng Guo  (郭征)
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  9. Rui Yang  (杨锐)
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  10. Lawrence E. Murr
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zheng Guo  (郭征).

Additional information

Shujun Li is a tenured professor in Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His current research interest focuses on additive manufacturing via electron beam melting technology, aiming to understand the structure-process-property relationship of 3D printable metallic materials and explore their practical applications in aerospace and biomedical components, etc.

Xiaokang Li, MD, PhD, is an attending physician at the Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, Xijing Hospital. His research interest focuses on the effect of bone implants made of low modulus titanium or porous titanium alloy.

Zheng Guo is a professor and Chief of the Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, Xijing Hospital. His clinical work has focused on the application of customized 3D-printed titanium implants and digital orthopedic techniques. His research interests have been in both clinical and basic areas. The clinical research involves modifying surgical techniques and R&D of new orthopedic implants. His basic research focuses on low modulus titanium alloy, porous titanium alloy and surface modification for metal materials.

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Li, S., Li, X., Hou, W. et al. Fabrication of open-cellular (porous) titanium alloy implants: osseointegration, vascularization and preliminary human trials. Sci. China Mater. 61, 525–536 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-017-9063-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-017-9063-6

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