Chih-Kuang Wang
Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan
Title: 3D additive manufacturing of bioceramic applied to the bone reconstruction using reverse thermo-responsive hydrogel technique
Biography
Biography: Chih-Kuang Wang
Abstract
The key advantages of a 3D printed biodegradable scaffolds are custom control of shape, porosity, pore connectivity, material composition, site-specific drug/growth factor delivery, and orientation. Another limitation in 3D printed parts is that the mechanical properties of printed objects do not always resemble the repaired tissue in terms of modulus, and strength. Improvement in mechanical strength often resulted in compromise in biodegradability or biocompatibility. Clinical reported that porous biphasic bioceramics of hydroxyapatite/ï¢-tricalcium phosphate (Hap/ï¢-TCP) can promote osteoconduction during new bone formation in in vivo experiments. However, the brittle nature of porous bioceramic substitutes cannot match the toughness of bone, which limits the use of these materials for clinical load-bearing applications. Fortunately, our novel methods to enhance mechanical properties are mainly based on the admixture of a combustible reverse negative thermo-responsive hydrogel (poly(N-isopropylacrylamide base) that burns away during sintering in the resulting object. This method can be regarded as functioning in a manner similar to the cold isostatic press (CIP) step before the powder sintering densification process. In other words, sintering densification is expected via free volume contraction, which will increase the mechanical properties after the formation of the porous bioceramics. We will develop the curved shape bioceramic block with interpenetrating channels for bone reconstruction. The study aimed to investigate the processing chain, the dimensional accuracy and the mechanical and physical characteristics of the implants.