Tuba Kizilirmak
University of Sheffield, UK
Title: Additive manufacturing of Ti6Al4V lattices for spinal fusion cages
Biography
Biography: Tuba Kizilirmak
Abstract
Selective Laser Melting is rapid prototyping technique which enables prompt modelling of parts with high bulk density on the base of individual three dimensional data. In this study, we will test the SLM produced samples with on the basis of Ti6Al4V alloy for its applicability in spinal fusion cages. Great modulus of spinal fusion cages causes an accumulation of stress on implant and this cause stress shielding problem which results in long term damage to vertebral bodies. This study considers the effect of stress shielding on the bone-implant interaction and optimize the stiffness of titanium scaffolds. When the loads on the implants could not be transferred to the bone due to the higher elastic modulus of the implant than bone, so stress shielding effect appears on the interface of bone and implant. Optimization of cell topologies of titanium scaffolds will optimize the stiffness and give a value close the stiffness of cancellous bone. Compressive tests will prove that the stiffness of the porous structures. Both experimental and modeling of compression test was done to compare both results. This study will aim to understand the effect of pore geometry on the in vitro biological behavior of bone cells seeded on selective laser-melted Ti6Al4V bone scaffolds. Pentamode lattice structure was selected with 70%, 80% and 90% porosities. Produced scaffolds were characterized by two-dimensional optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). 3-Dimensional cell culture test will be practiced with MLO-A5 cells on selected titanium scaffolds. This test is for the identification of the best unit cell model and pore size of titanium scaffolds for the enhanced bone matrix production and facilitated long-term static culture.