Strategies for characterizing porous additively manufactured implants

在我们的老龄化人口中，骨质疏松症（OP）是由骨密度下降和骨代谢相关的全身改变分类的，是种植牙成功的一个问题。需要新的种植体设计策略来促进骨形成。增材制造或3D打印提供了一种创造新型多孔植入物几何形状的方法，但这些孔在健康个体骨修复中的作用尚不清楚。本研究旨在通过开发一个多模式平台来表征骨形成，包括评估多孔金属种植体内骨的细胞、分子和多长度尺度结构形成，从而更好地理解种植体周围骨修复的种植体设计。它将结合高分辨率电子显微镜策略与力学测试，基因反应和组织学来阐明种植体设计，骨结构和细胞功能之间的联系。这项工作将开发一个平台，用于表征复杂的生物材料系统，这与加拿大的生物医学成像部门高度相关。最终，这项工作将改善牙科和骨科矫形手术中增材制造植入物的设计和使用寿命，降低医疗保健成本，并直接造福所有加拿大人的福祉，特别是我们老龄化的人口。

In our aging population, conditions such as osteoporosis (OP) which is classified by a decrease in bone mineral density and associated systemic changes in bone metabolism, are of concern for dental implant success. New implant design strategies are needed to enhance bone formation. Additive manufacturing or 3D printing presents an approach to creating novel porous implant geometries, but the role of these pores on bone repair in healthy individuals is not well understood. This proposal seeks to better understand implant design on peri-implant bone repair by developing a multi-modal platform to characterize bone formation including assessing the cellular, molecular, and multi-length scale structural formation of bone within porous metallic implants. It will incorporate high-resolution electron microscopy strategies with mechanical testing, gene response, and histology to elucidate the connection between implant design, bone structure, and cellular function. This work will develop a platform for the characterization of complex biomaterials systems which is of high relevance to the biomedical imaging sector in Canada. Ultimately, this work will lead to the improved design and longevity of additively manufactured implants for corrective procedures in dentistry and orthopaedics, reducing healthcare costs and directly benefiting the well-being of all Canadians, particularly our aging demographic.