Development of β-TCP-Ti6Al4V structures: Driving cellular response by modulating physical and chemical properties.

Abstract Load-bearing implants success is strongly dependent on several physical and chemical properties that are known to drive cellular response. In this work, multi-material β-TCP-Ti6Al4V cellular structures were designed to combine Ti6Al4V mechanical properties and β-Tricalcium Phosphate bioactivity, in order to promote bone ingrowth as the bioactive material is being absorbed and replaced by newly formed bone. In this sense, the produced structures were characterized regarding roughness, wettability, β-TCP quantity and quality inside the structures after fabrication and the pH measured during cell culture (as consequence of β-TCP dissolution) and those aspects were correlated with cellular viability, distribution, morphology and proliferation. These structures displayed a hydrophilic behavior and results showed that the addition of β-TCP to these cellular structures led to an alkalization of the medium, aspect that significantly influences the cellular response. Higher impregnation ratios were found more adequate for lowering the media pH and toxicity, and thus enhance cell adhesion and proliferation. Highlights • β-TCP-Ti6Al4V cellular structures were designed and manufactured by combining AM technique (SLM) with Press and Sintering. • This structure design will allow bone ingrowth while the bioactive material is being absorbed and replaced by new bone. • Structures physical and chemical aspects were assessed and correlated with cell viability, adhesion and proliferation. • β-TCP amount inside these cellular structures has a significant impact on medium pH and thus on the cellular response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]