CHARACTERISATION OF BONE-REGENERATING SCAFFOLDS PRODUCED THROUGH LITHOGRAPHY-BASED CERAMIC MANUFACTURING

• Morakane Moletsane Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7775-4474
• Willie du Preez Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9935-7330
• Deon de Beer Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0175-9556
• Shathani Nkhwa Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0582-225X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/34-4-2984

Abstract

Lithography-based ceramic manufacturing (LCM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology that builds custom-designed, three-dimensional ceramic parts layer by layer. The level of precision of the process allows for the printing of custom-made interconnected lattices and designs suitable for bone implants. This study investigated the LCM printability of various lattice structures with the hydroxyapatite (HA480) supplied by Lithoz. Different lattice structures were characterised. The microscopic structure, the composition, and the surface roughness of the test specimens were determined. To obtain the mechanical properties of the structures, compression tests were performed. The observed micropores of ±3 µm and the macropores of  ±320 µm were suitable for bone cell growth. The measured microhardness of HA480 was 556±25 HV in the built direction and 559±27 HV perpendicular to the built direction. The compressive strength of the rhombic dodecahedron lattice structure was 4±0.5 MPa, and was superior to other tested lattices. From the results it was concluded that lattice structures produced through LCM have the potential to be used to produce customised bone-regenerating scaffolds.