ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Mech. Eng.
Sec. Biomechanical Engineering
Structural Optimization of Porous CPC Scaffolds and the Effect of Eliminating the Outer Wall on Mechanical Properties for Bone Regeneration
Provisionally accepted
- 1G.E.R.N. Center of Tissue Replacement, Regeneration & Neogenesis, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg i. Br., Germany
- 2Biomechanics, Offenburg University, Offenburg, Germany
- 3Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center-Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- 4Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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Additive manufacturing was utilized to fabricate rotationally symmetrical scaffolds from CPC, which exhibit sufficient mechanical stability to function as bone replacement and possess sufficient accessible surface area for subsequent release of active ingredients. An existing geometry was further developed for this purpose. The experimental protocol entailed an initial phase of solidification in an atmosphere saturated with water, followed by a post-solidification phase in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS). Furthermore, a pause was inserted after every five layers during three-dimensional plotting, and the green bodies were sprayed with water. The study also investigated the influence of water content on mechanical strength. A comprehensive examination of the test specimens was conducted under macroscopic, microscopic, and mechanical scrutiny. The scaffolds demonstrated an adequate capacity to withstand a load of 2,000 Newtons (N). Subsequent to consolidation in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), there was no observed increase in the maximum tolerated force. At this breaking load, the majority of test series exhibited an average deformation of 5%. The resultant stiffness was measured at 1100 MPa. Consequently, the samples exhibited a strength level that was lower than that of spongy bone. The investigation revealed that the novel geometry, featuring an open outer ring, exhibited adequate mechanical stability while concomitantly augmenting the surface area accessible from the exterior for subsequent drug release. The advent of mass production with the new geometry is now a possibility.
Keywords: Additive manufacturing, bonereplacement, calcium phosphate cement, Geometry optimization, Mechanical Properties
Received: 06 Oct 2025; Accepted: 17 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Pilekic, Lienhard, Shetty, Schmal and Seidenstuecker. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Michael Seidenstuecker
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