Biocompatibility of FDM printed PEEK is comparable to cranial bone properties; FDM printed PEEK is thereby a suitable material for cranial implants
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1
Medical University Graz, Experimental Neurotraumatology, Austria
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2
Medical University Graz, Department of Neurosurgery, Austria
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3
Montanuniversitaet, Department of Polymer Processing, Austria
Due to its relative inertness and biocompatibility poly(aryl-ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) has been extensively employed as biomaterial for trauma, orthopedic, and spinal implants. Implants from PEEK are generally generated through CAD/CAM milling processes based on CT- patient data. These are cost and time intensive; often requiring additional surgery for implantation weeks after the primary surgery. Our aim was to develop a reliable FDM printing process for PEEK in order to allow rapid intra-operative generation of patient customized implants and thereby enabling timely or even immediate implantation. The biocompatibilityof additive printed PEEK implants were analysed in a relevant animal model.
Having successfully established the FDM printing of PEEK at high temperatures implants were printed matching automated and reproducible generated bone defects in rat sculls. For craniectomy and implantation adult male Sprague Dawley rats were anesthesized by intraperitoneal injection of Fentanyl, Midazolam and Domitor (volume ratio 2:2:1). For reproducible craniectomy a motorized Neurostar Drill was used. Craniectomy resulted in lesions of 4 x 6 mm and was localized between lambda an bregma. The cranial lesion size was documented by micro CT. CT data was translated into 3D models and subsequently FDM printed (HAGE). The FDM printed PEEK implants were accurately fitting and were implanted within a day of craniectomy. Prior to implantation implants were sterilized by autoclaving. In sham animals the removed bone flap was frozen and re-implanted the next day. Local Inflammatory reactions were assessed 5 days post-implantation. We observed no significant inflammatory reactions as analysed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry using nestin, GFAP, as inflammatory markers and CD68, CD4 and CD8 as markers for inert and cellular immune responses respectively. Analysis of inflammatory reactions three weeks post- implantation are ongoing.
Our results indicate that innovative FDM printing of accurately fitting PEEK implants at high temperature is successful. Furthermore the process of FDM printing that is the production of PEEK filaments and the layer-wise depositing of PEEK filaments subsequently does not interfere with the known biocompatibility of the material. Clinical studies to verify the potential of rapid intra-operative FDM printing of patient customized PEEK implants are currently being planned.
Keywords:
Biocompatibility,
polymer,
medical application
Conference:
10th World Biomaterials Congress, Montréal, Canada, 17 May - 22 May, 2016.
Presentation Type:
General Session Oral
Topic:
Biomaterials in printing
Citation:
Schaefer
U,
Von Campe
G,
Uecal
M,
Katschnig
M,
Tax
A and
Holzer
C
(2016). Biocompatibility of FDM printed PEEK is comparable to cranial bone properties; FDM printed PEEK is thereby a suitable material for cranial implants.
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.
Conference Abstract:
10th World Biomaterials Congress.
doi: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.00067
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Received:
27 Mar 2016;
Published Online:
30 Mar 2016.