Abstract
Cortical bone is an example of a mineralized tissue containing a compositional distribution of hard and soft phases in 3-dimensional space for mechanical function. X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is able to describe this compositional and morphological complexity but methods to provide a physical output with sufficient fidelity to provide comparable mechanical function is lacking. A workflow is presented in this work to establish a method of using high contrast XCT to establish a virtual model of cortical bone that is manufactured using a multiple material capable 3D printer. Resultant 3D printed structures were produced based on more and less remodelled bone designs exhibiting a range of secondary osteon density. Variation in resultant mechanical properties of the 3D printed composite structures for each bone design was achieved using a combination of material components and reasonable prediction of elastic modulus provided using a Hashin-Shtrikman approach. The ability to 3D print composite structures using high contrast XCT to distinguish between compositional phases in a biological structure promises improved anatomical models as well as next-generation mechano-mimetic implants.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2761-2767 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 11 |
Early online date | 19 Dec 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Nov 2017 |
Keywords
- bone
- mechanics
- 3D printing
- additive manufacturing
- x-ray tomography
- composites