Additive-manufactured Ti-6Al-4 V/Polyetheretherketone Composite Porous Cage for Interbody Fusion: Bone Growth and Biocompatibility Evaluation in a Porcine Model

Overview

Journal BMC Musculoskelet Disord

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Orthopedics
Physiology

Date 2021 Feb 12

PMID 33573634

Citations 10

Authors

Pei-I Tsai

Meng-Huang Wu

Yen-Yao Li

Tzu-Hung Lin

Jane S C Tsai

Hsin-I Huang

Hong-Jen Lai

Ming-Hsueh Lee

Chih-Yu Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: We developed a porous Ti alloy/PEEK composite interbody cage by utilizing the advantages of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and titanium alloy (Ti alloy) in combination with additive manufacturing technology.

Methods: Porous Ti alloy/PEEK composite cages were manufactured using various controlled porosities. Anterior intervertebral lumbar fusion and posterior augmentation were performed at three vertebral levels on 20 female pigs. Each level was randomly implanted with one of the five cages that were tested: a commercialized pure PEEK cage, a Ti alloy/PEEK composite cage with nonporous Ti alloy endplates, and three composite cages with porosities of 40, 60, and 80%, respectively. Micro-computed tomography (CT), backscattered-electron SEM (BSE-SEM), and histological analyses were performed.

Results: Micro-CT and histological analyses revealed improved bone growth in high-porosity groups. Micro-CT and BSE-SEM demonstrated that structures with high porosities, especially 60 and 80%, facilitated more bone formation inside the implant but not outside the implant. Histological analysis also showed that bone formation was higher in Ti alloy groups than in the PEEK group.

Conclusion: The composite cage presents the biological advantages of Ti alloy porous endplates and the mechanical and radiographic advantages of the PEEK central core, which makes it suitable for use as a single implant for intervertebral fusion.

Citing Articles

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Improving osteoinduction and osteogenesis of Ti6Al4V alloy porous scaffold by regulating the pore structure.

Wang C, Wu J, Liu L, Xu D, Liu Y, Li S Front Chem. 2023; 11:1190630.

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