Title
3D printed and punched porous surfaces of a non-resorbable, biphasic implant for the repair of osteochondral lesions improves repair tissue adherence and ingrowth
Author
Fugazzola, Maria C. (Universiteit Utrecht)
Golafshan, Nasim (University Medical Center Utrecht)
van Aken, Joris A. (University Medical Center Utrecht)
Plomp, S. (Universiteit Utrecht)
De Grauw, Janny (Universiteit Utrecht)
van Buul, Ward (Joinstphere Company)
Hermsen, Gied (Joinstphere Company)
Weinans, Harrie (TU Delft Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanics; University Medical Center Utrecht) 
Castilho, Miguel (University Medical Center Utrecht; Eindhoven University of Technology; Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht)
van Weeren, René (Universiteit Utrecht)
Malda, Jos (Universiteit Utrecht; University Medical Center Utrecht; Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht)
Date
2023
Abstract
Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate a non-resorbable implant for the focal repair of osteochondral defects. Enhanced adherence of repair cartilage overgrowing the implants was the secondary goal and was tested by introducing porosities on the articular surface of the implant. This study evaluated four versions of the construct composed of a polycarbonate-urethane-urea biomaterial (elastomer) and a bone anchor. In order to induce porosities on the surface of the implant, either vertical holes were punched into it, or the chondral component was 3D-printed onto the implant. Fabrication, biomechanical characterization and cell infiltration of the implant were evaluated in-vitro. Subsequently the implants were tested in an in-vivo study in four Shetland ponies for 5 weeks. Enhanced porosity was successfully obtained for all implants. The 3D-printing of the elastomeric material produced pore diameters of 775μm and 690μm whilst the micro-punched pores had a diameter of 319μm. The elastic modulus of the elastomer decreased with the introduction of porosity but stayed above values of native cartilage in all versions of the implant. Clinically the implant was well tolerated. The over-growing repair tissue was mostly flush with surrounding cartilage and attached to the elastomer through ingrowth of the tissue into the pores. Overall the tested implants all showed good mechanical performance in vitro and subjectively also in vivo. The repair cartilage was solidly attached to the porous surface of the implant. The printing approach potentially enables fine-tuning of the biomechanical properties of the implant depending on the specific requirements for a given location.
Subject
3D printing
cartilage
horse model
implant
Joint
osteoarthritis
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:89a4065e-a293-4e8c-a202-7e03a4259b7a
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21836/PEM20230601
Embargo date
2024-06-20
ISSN
0177-7726
Source
Pferdeheilkunde, 39 (6), 504-514
Bibliographical note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.
Part of collection
Institutional Repository
Document type
journal article
Rights
© 2023 Maria C. Fugazzola, Nasim Golafshan, Joris A. van Aken, S. Plomp, Janny De Grauw, Ward van Buul, Gied Hermsen, Harrie Weinans, Miguel Castilho, René van Weeren, Jos Malda