Browsing by Author "Alves, N."
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- Additive manufacturing of NiTi-Ti6Al4V multi-material cellular structures targeting orthopedic implantsPublication . Bartolomeu, F.; Costa, M.M.; Alves, N.; Miranda, G.; Silva, F.S.The amount of hip revision surgeries is significantly increasing due to the loss of fixation between implant and bone, that leads to implant failure. The stiffness mismatch between Ti6Al4V hip implants and bone tissue, the non-uniform implant-bone contact pressure, and the poor wear resistance of Ti6Al4V are pointed as three critical issues that contribute to these implant’s failure. In this study, a multi-material design and fabrication concept was exploited aiming to change traditional manufacturing paradigms, by allocating different biomaterials in a single component targeting a multi-functional hip implant. Selective Laser Melting technology was explored to fabricate NiTi-Ti6Al4V multi-material cellular structures with a Ti6Al4V inner region and a NiTi outer region. This work was focused on the SLM fabrication and processing parameters validation on a commercial SLM equipment. The morphological analyses allowed to assess a successful solidification and bond between NiTi and Ti6Al4V materials in the transition region. The shear tests revealed a high bond strength of the transition region with an average strength of 33 MPa. The nano-indentation results showed that the Ti6Al4V region exhibits a higher hardness and elastic modulus when compared with the NiTi region. This work is a part of a broader objective that aims to create a NiTi-Ti6Al4V multi-material and cellular structured hip implant capable to provide customized stiffness, superior wear resistance and a controlled NiTi outer region volume change.
- Additive Manufacturing Tools to Improve the Performance of Chromatographic ApproachesPublication . Valente, J. F. A.; Sousa, F.; Alves, N.Chromatography is widely applied industrially. However, some limitations are associated with its common supports, and the impossibility to fully control their structural features is particularly restrictive. Additive manufacturing (AM) is emerging as a fast, highly precise, and reproducible technology for producing chromatographic supports that can improve its performance.
- Box-Behnken Design a Key Tool to Achieve Optimized PCL/Gelatin Electrospun Mesh, Macromolecular Materials and EngineeringPublication . Guerreiro, S.F.C.; Valente, J.F.A.; Dias, J.R.; Alves, N.Hybrid electrospun nanofibers of polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin are considered as drug-delivery systems for increasing the treatment efficacy in superficial (skin) wounds. Continuous delivery of therapeutic agents, skin extracellular matrix similarity, management of wound exudate, and antimicrobial barrier effect are the major advantages of electrospun nanofibers in skin applications. Additionally, combining the favorable properties of PCL and gelatin, regarding their biocompatibility, biodegradability and mechanical performance have been revealed promising parameters to be considered for blend in hybrid structures. However, the usual optimization protocol of nanofibers’ production in electrospinning is based on the observation of one-variable-attime being this methodology expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, in this research work, a statistical model based on four input variables namely, the flow rate, the needle-working distance, the applied voltage, and the ratio of PCL in the solution, is developed to predict the behavior of nanofibers. The performance of nanofibers is monitored by measurements of fiber’s diameter, mesh’s thickness, and mesh’s permeability. Overall, the model showed to be statistically significant (p-value < 0.05) and an independent analysis validated the predicted response for optimal condition. Finally, a delivery study is performed to evaluate the electrospun mesh performance as a drug carrier.
- Choosing sheep (Ovis aries) as animal model for temporomandibular joint research: Morphological, histological and biomechanical characterization of the joint discPublication . Angelo, D.F.; Morouço, P.; Alves, N.; Viana, T.; Santos, F.; González, R.; Monje, F.; Macias, D.; Carrapiço, B.; Sousa, R.; Cavaco-Gonçalves, S.; Salvado, F.; Peleteiro, C.; Pinho, M.Preclinical trials are essential to the development of scientific technologies. Remarkable molecular and cellular research has been done using small animal models. However, significant differences exist regarding the articular behavior between these models and humans. Thus, large animal models may be more appropriate to perform trials involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The aim of this work was to make a morphological (anatomic dissection and white light 3D scanning system), histological (TMJ in bloc was removed for histologic analysis) and biomechanical characterization (tension and compression tests) of sheep TMJcomparing the obtained results with human data. Results showed that sheep processus condy-laris and fossa mandibularis are anatomically similar to the same human structures. TMJ dischas an elliptical perimeter, thinner in the center than in periphery. Peripheral area actsas a ring structure supporting the central zone. The disc cells display both fibroblast andchondrocyte-like morphology. Marginal area is formed by loose connective tissue, with somechondrocyte-like cells and collagen fibers in diverse orientations. Discs obtained a tensile mod-ulus of 3.97 ± 0.73 MPa and 9.39 ± 1.67 MPa, for anteroposterior and mediolateral assessment.The TMJ discs presented a compressive modulus (E) of 446.41 ± 5.16 MPa and their maximumstress value ( max) was 18.87 ± 1.33 MPa. Obtained results suggest that these animals should beconsidered as a prime model for TMJ research and procedural training. Further investigationsin the field of oromaxillofacial surgery involving TMJ should consider sheep as a good animalmodel due to its resemblance of the same joint in humans.© 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
- Composite Central Face Design—An Approach to Achieve Efficient Alginate MicrocarriersPublication . Valente, J.F.A.; Dias, J.R.; Sousa, A.; Alves, N.Microparticulated drug delivery systems have been used as promising encapsulation systems for protecting drugs for in vitro and in vivo applications, enhancing its stability, providing an increased surface to volume ratio, reducing adverse effects, and hence an improvement in bioavailability. Among the studied microparticles, there is a rising interest in the research of alginate microparticles for pharmaceutical and biomedical fields confirming its potential to be used as an effective matrix for drug and cell delivery. Moreover, calcium alginate has been one of the most extensively forming microparticles in the presence of divalent cations providing prolonged drug release and suitable mucoadhesive properties. Regarding the above mentioned, in this research work, we intended to produce Ca-alginate micro-vehicles through electrospraying, presenting high encapsulation efficiency (EE%), reduced protein release across the time, reduced swelling effect, and high sphericity coefficient. To quickly achieve these characteristics and to perform an optimal combination among the percentage of alginate and CaCl2, design of Experiments was applied. The obtained model presented to be statistically significant (p-value < 0.05), with a coefficient of determination of 0.9207, 0.9197, 0.9499, and 0.9637 for each output (EE%, release, swelling, and sphericity, respectively). Moreover, the optimal point (4% of alginate and 6.6% of CaCl2) was successfully validated.
- A Computer Simulation of the Nitinol Thermal Expansion under Fast Varying Working ConditionsPublication . Ferreira, P. Castelo; Pascoal-Faria, P.; Carreira, P.; Alves, N.We discuss the setup of a simulation on ANSYS to predict the thermal expansion of parts made of Nitinol. A simulation is justified for working conditions in which the part heating is not ho-mogeneous originating a temperature gradient across the part section such that an analytical estimate for the part expansion cannot be calculated. We apply the simulation to the topological optimization of a square section geometry and a bullet geometry for water assisted injection molding. For the topo-logical optimization we consider as parameter the wall thickness and consider both the cases of fast varying temperature and fast varying temperature and pressure.
- Computer tool for maximizing the placement of congruent polyhedraPublication . Gaspar, M.; Alves, N.; Mateus, A.; Martins-Ferreira, N.Given multiple identical polyhedral objects and a parallelepiped container, how should one place the objects so that the largest number fits inside the container? This simple question is important in many applications, yet the answer is elusive. In fact, we know of no published solution for this very general formulation. Still, in many circumstances, further restrictions apply, resulting in a large number of variations requiring different algorithmic strategies. This paper is the continuation of [12] and focus on the fundamental concepts and tools that are used for this kind of problem, such as the no-fit polygon. We also present some of its many variations, giving in particular one that applies to the stereolithographic rapid prototyping technology.
- Corrosion behaviour of PEEK or β-TCP-impregnated Ti6Al4V SLM structures targeting biomedical applicationsPublication . Costa, M.M.; Dantas, T.A.; Bartolomeu, F.; Alves, N.; Silva, F.S.; Miranda, G.; Toptan, F.Ti6Al4V cellular structures were produced by selective laser melting (SLM) and then filled either with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) or PEEK (poly-ether-ether-ketone) through powder metallurgy techniques, to improve osteoconductivity and wear resistance. The corrosion behavior of these structures was explored considering its importance for the long-term performance of implants. Results revealed that the incorporation of open cellular pores induced higher electrochemical kinetics when being compared with dense structures. The impregnation of β-TCP and PEEK led to the creation of voids or gaps between the metallic matrix and the impregnated material which also influenced the corrosion behavior of the cellular structures.
- Development of β-TCP-Ti6Al4V structures: Driving cellular response by modulating physical and chemical propertiesPublication . Costa, M.M.; Lima, R.; Melo-Fonseca, F.; Bartolomeu, F.; Alves, N.; Miranda, A.; Gasik, M.; Silva, F.S.; Silva, N.A.; Miranda, G.Load-bearing implants success is strongly dependent on several physical and chemical properties that are known to drive cellular response. In this work, multi-material β-TCP-Ti6Al4V cellular structures were designed to combine Ti6Al4V mechanical properties and β-Tricalcium Phosphate bioactivity, in order to promote bone ingrowth as the bioactive material is being absorbed and replaced by newly formed bone. In this sense, the produced structures were characterized regarding roughness, wettability, β-TCP quantity and quality inside the structures after fabrication and the pH measured during cell culture (as consequence of β-TCP dissolution) and those aspects were correlated with cellular viability, distribution, morphology and proliferation. These structures displayed a hydrophilic behavior and results showed that the addition of β-TCP to these cellular structures led to an alkalization of the medium, aspect that significantly influences the cellular response. Higher impregnation ratios were found more adequate for lowering the media pH and toxicity, and thus enhance cell adhesion and proliferation.
- Engineering the elastic modulus of NiTi cellular structures fabricated by selective laser meltingPublication . Bartolomeu, F.; Costa, M.M.; Alves, N.; Miranda, G.; Silva, F.S.Nickel-titanium (NiTi) cellular structures are a very promising solution to some issues related to orthopaedic implant failure. These structures can be designed and fabricated to simultaneously address a combination of mechanical and physical properties, such as elastic modulus, porosity, wear and corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and appropriate biological environment. This ability can enhance the modest interaction currently existing between metallic dense implants and surrounding bone tissue, allowing long-term successful orthopaedic implants. For that purpose, NiTi cellular structures with different levels of porosity intended to reduce the elastic modulus were designed, modelled, selective laser melting (SLM) fabricated and characterized. Significant differences were found between the CAD design and the SLM-produced NiTi structures by performing systematic image analysis. This work proposes designing guidelines to anticipate and correct the systematic differences between CAD and produced structures. Compressive tests were carried out to estimate the elastic modulus of the produced structures and finite element analyses were performed, for comparison purposes. Linear correlations were found for the dimensions, porosity, and elastic modulus when comparing the CAD design with the SLM structures. The produced NiTi structures exhibit elastic moduli that match that of bone tissue, which is a good indication of the potential of these structures in orthopaedic implants.
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