Additive manufacturing and characterization of mathematically designed bone scaffolds based on triply periodic minimal surface lattices

Abstract

Lattice structures are widely employed in bone scaffolds to obtain high porosity with interconnected pores and high surface area-to-volume and strength-to-weight ratios. Here, 21 lattice-based scaffold architectures were modeled using implicit functions and additively manufactured using epoxidized soybean oil-based resin. The porosity of the scaffolds ranged from 53.42% ± 1.16% to 98.28% ± 0.75%. Scaffolds with the lowest overall porosity (Group 1) exhibited the highest compressive strength. The compressive strength of eighteen different three-dimensional scaffold designs was compatible with that of human trabecular bone. The results and methodology presented here can facilitate the mathematical design of complex porous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Triply periodic minimal surfaces
• lattice
• bone scaffold
• compression
• 3D printing
• porosity

Disclosure statement

The author reports that there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This research was not funded by any grants from public, commercial, or nonprofit entities.