Advancements in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Applications

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetic Design, Constructions and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 2154

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
Interests: bioengineering; tissue engineering; 3D printing; bone implant; mechanical engineering; additive manufacturing; finite element analysis; computational fluid dynamics; numerical simulation; 3D CAD modelling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our Special Issue on “Advancements in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Applications” of Biomimetics. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest developments, innovations, and applications of 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies in the field of orthopedics.

Introduction: The field of orthopedic applications has been significantly transformed by the advent of 3D printing and additive manufacturing. These technologies have enabled the creation of customized implants, prosthetics, and surgical tools with unprecedented precision and functionality. The integration of biomimetic principles has further enhanced the performance and biocompatibility of these medical devices.

Aim: This Special Issue aims to gather high-quality research articles and reviews that address the advancements in 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies for orthopedic applications. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the development of new materials, design optimization, clinical applications, and the integration of digital and computational tools.

Themes: We welcome submissions that cover a broad range of topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Customization of orthopedic implants and prosthetics;
  • Biomimetic design principles in 3D printing;
  • Novel materials for additive manufacturing in orthopedics;
  • Advances in surgical tools and guides;
  • Clinical case studies and applications;
  • Computational modeling and simulation for design and fabrication.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Francis T. Omigbodun
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • 3D printing
  • additive manufacturing
  • orthopedic applications
  • biomimetic design
  • customized implants
  • prosthetics
  • surgical tools
  • novel materials
  • clinical applications
  • computational modeling

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 13097 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Degradation Control of Poly(Lactic) Acid/Hydroxyapatite/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites for Advanced Bone Tissue Engineering Application
by Francis T. Omigbodun and Bankole I. Oladapo
Biomimetics 2024, 9(11), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9110651 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 947
Abstract
This study explores the enhancement of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix using calcium hydroxyapatite (cHAP) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for developing composite scaffolds aimed at bone regeneration applications. The PLA composites were fabricated through solvent evaporation and melt extrusion and characterized by various [...] Read more.
This study explores the enhancement of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix using calcium hydroxyapatite (cHAP) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for developing composite scaffolds aimed at bone regeneration applications. The PLA composites were fabricated through solvent evaporation and melt extrusion and characterized by various techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mechanical testing. The incorporation of cHAP and rGO significantly improved the thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of the PLA matrix. Mechanical testing revealed that adding 10% cHAP and varying amounts of rGO (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%) enhanced tensile and compressive strengths, with the highest improvements observed at 0.5% rGO content. Thermal analysis showed increased thermal stability with higher degradation temperatures for the composites. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed the effective integration of cHAP and rGO into the PLA matrix with characteristic peaks of the fillers identified in the composite spectra. In vitro, degraded action tests in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 over 12 months indicated that composites with higher rGO content exhibited lower mass loss and better mechanical stability. Furthermore, finite element analysis (FEA) simulations were performed to validate the experimental results, demonstrating a strong correlation between simulated and experimental compressive strengths. This novel approach demonstrates the potential of PLA/cHAP/rGO composites in creating effective and biocompatible scaffolds for tissue engineering, providing a comprehensive analysis of the synergistic effects of cHAP and rGO on the PLA matrix and offering a promising material for bone regeneration applications. Full article
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23 pages, 5284 KiB  
Article
Leveraging Machine Learning for Optimized Mechanical Properties and 3D Printing of PLA/cHAP for Bone Implant
by Francis T. Omigbodun, Norman Osa-Uwagboe, Amadi Gabriel Udu and Bankole I. Oladapo
Biomimetics 2024, 9(10), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9100587 - 27 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 990
Abstract
This study explores the fabrication and characterisation of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds reinforced with calcium hydroxyapatite (cHAP) for bone tissue engineering applications. By varying the cHAP content, we aimed to enhance PLA scaffolds’ mechanical and thermal properties, making them suitable for load-bearing [...] Read more.
This study explores the fabrication and characterisation of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds reinforced with calcium hydroxyapatite (cHAP) for bone tissue engineering applications. By varying the cHAP content, we aimed to enhance PLA scaffolds’ mechanical and thermal properties, making them suitable for load-bearing biomedical applications. The results indicate that increasing cHAP content improves the tensile and compressive strength of the scaffolds, although it also increases brittleness. Notably, incorporating cHAP at 7.5% and 10% significantly enhances thermal stability and mechanical performance, with properties comparable to or exceeding those of human cancellous bone. Furthermore, this study integrates machine learning techniques to predict the mechanical properties of these composites, employing algorithms such as XGBoost and AdaBoost. The models demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with R2 scores of 0.9173 and 0.8772 for compressive and tensile strength, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of using data-driven approaches to optimise material properties autonomously, offering significant implications for developing custom-tailored scaffolds in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The study underscores the promise of PLA/cHAP composites as viable candidates for advanced biomedical applications, particularly in creating patient-specific implants with improved mechanical and thermal characteristics. Full article
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