Additively manufactured metallic porous biomaterials based on minimal surfaces: A unique combination of topological, mechanical, and mass transport properties

The geometry of porous scaffolds that are used for bone tissue engineering and/or bone substitution has recently been shown to significantly influence the cellular response and the rate of bone tissue regeneration. Most importantly, it has been shown that the rate of tissue generation increases with curvature and is much larger on concave surfaces as compared to convex and planar surfaces. In this work, recent discoveries concerning the effects of geometrical features of porous scaffolds such as surface curvature, pore shape, and pore size on the cellular response and bone tissue regeneration process are reviewed. In addition to reviewing the recent experimental observations, we discuss the mechanisms through which geometry affects the bone tissue regeneration process. Of particular interest are the theoretical models that have been developed to explain the role of geometry in the bone tissue regeneration process. We then follow with a section on the implications of the observed phenomena for geometrical design of porous scaffolds including the application of predictive computational models in geometrical design of porous scaffolds. Moreover, some geometrical concepts in the design of porous scaffolds such as minimal surfaces and porous structures with geometrical gradients that have not been explored before are suggested for future studies. We especially focus on the porous scaffolds manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques where the geometry of the porous scaffolds could be precisely controlled. The paper concludes with a general discussion of the current state-of-the-art and recommendations for future research.

Tissue formation is determined by uncountable biochemical signals between cells; in addition, physical parameters have been shown to exhibit significant effects on the level of the single cell. Beyond the cell, however, there is still no quantitative understanding of how geometry affects tissue growth, which is of much significance for bone healing and tissue engineering. In this paper, it is shown that the local growth rate of tissue formed by osteoblasts is strongly influenced by the geometrical features of channels in an artificial three-dimensional matrix. Curvature-driven effects and mechanical forces within the tissue may explain the growth patterns as demonstrated by numerical simulation and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This implies that cells within the tissue surface are able to sense and react to radii of curvature much larger than the size of the cells themselves. This has important implications towards the understanding of bone remodelling and defect healing as well as towards scaffold design in bone tissue engineering.