Microelectromechanical Systems Research Unit

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

45S5 BAG-Ti6Al4V structures: The influence of the design on some of the physical and chemical interactions that drive cellular response

Publication . Melo-Fonseca, F.; Lima, R.; Costa, M.M.; Bartolomeu, F.; Alves, Nuno; Miranda, A.; Gasik, M.; Silva, F.S.; Silva, N.A.; Miranda, G.

Multi-material Ti6Al4V cellular structures impregnated with 45S5 bioactive glass were designed and produced using Selective LaserMelting (SLM), an additive manufacturing technique, combinedwith Press and Sintering focusing on load bearing components like hip implants. These structures were designed to combine Ti6Al4V mechanical properties and promote bone ingrowth into the structure as the bioactive material (45S5) is being absorbed and replaced by newly formed bone. The influence of these structures design on some of the physical and chemical aspects that drive cellular response was assessed. Roughness, wettability, bioactive glass quantity and quality on the structures after processing and the pH measured during cell culture (as a consequence of bioactive glass dissolution) were evaluated and correlated with cellular viability, cellular distribution, morphology and proliferation on the surface and inside the structures.

2018Journal article

Open access

Ti6Al4V-PEEK multi-material structures – design, fabrication and tribological characterization focused on orthopedic implants

Publication . Bartolomeu, F.; Abreu, C.S.; Moura, C.G.; Costa, M.M.; Alves, N.; Silva, F.S.; Miranda, G.

A multi-material concept that gathers Ti6Al4V and PEEK properties in a cellular structured component was designed, fabricated and investigated targeting hip implants. SLM and pressure assisted injection techniques were used to obtain Ti6Al4V-PEEK multi-material structures. Aiming to reproduce to some extension the tribological phenomena occurring during and after hip implant insertion, five tribological tests were outlined and performed. The obtained results showed that the presence of PEEK on the Ti6Al4V-PEEK cellular structures led to a substantial improvement on the wear resistance (62% reduction in the mass loss) when compared to the material currently available on market for hip implants. The multi-material solution here investigated shows a good compromise between the primary stability after implant insertion and the wear performance.

2019Journal article

Open access

Implant surface design for improved implant stability: A study on Ti6Al4V dense and cellular structures produced by Selective Laser Melting

Publication . Bartolomeu, F.; Costa, M.M.; Gomes, J.R.; Alves, N.; Silva, F.S.; Miranda, G.

Focusing on implant surface design, aiming to improve implant primary stability, SLM technology was explored to produce dense and cellular structured Ti6Al4V specimens. The SLM specimens and also a commercial casted/forged Ti6Al4V group, were sandblasted and acid-etched to obtain a moderate surface roughness topography, typically used in implant manufacturing. Ti6Al4V-bone interaction and tribological performance were assessed by performing sliding tests aiming to replicate in some extension the insertion of a hip implant. The results shown a 24 and 32% higher kinetic friction coefficient values when comparing the cellular structures with the conventional casted/forged Ti6Al4V. These friction results together with a high amount of adhered bone are promising evidences of a higher efficiency of Ti6Al4V cellular structures for enhancing implant stability.

2019Journal article

Restricted access

Development of β-TCP-Ti6Al4V structures: Driving cellular response by modulating physical and chemical properties

Publication . 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.

2019Journal article

Open access

A study on the production of thin-walled Ti6Al4V parts by selective laser melting

Publication . Miranda, G.; Faria, S.; Bartolomeu, F.; Pinto, E.; Alves, N.; Peixinho, N.; Gasik, M.; Silva, F.S.

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is an extremely versatile technology especially suited for the manufacturing of thin-walled parts. Micro-sized parts are highly influenced and dependent on the SLM processing parameters; thus being indispensable to assess the influence of processing parameters on SLM fabrication, as isolated parameters but also their interactions. In this study, the influence of SLM laser power and scanning speed on Ti6Al4V micropillars and micro-plates thickness was assessed by applying response surface methodology (RSM). These analyses resulted in four models that exhibit complex correlations of SLM process parameters, with non-linear equations, having coefficients of determination that assess the quality of the models. These developed models are accurate tools that can be used to optimize the micro manufacture of Ti6Al4V thin-walled parts by SLM.

2019Journal article

Open access