| Abstract Scope |
Bone reconstruction in growing pediatric bones poses unique challenges, requiring special attention to scaffold design features (pore size, porosity, and strength) that are optimized to support the evolving bone. Our work focuses on enabling technologies for such applications, including scaffold design, material development for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)- based 3D printing, and computational analysis for design optimization. Progress on all these fronts will be presented. Specifically, 3D scaffold design includes pediatric-bone-mimicking features, such as porosity (30–80%) and pore size (500–1200 µm), in a 3D-printable form. The material development includes composite-based filaments made from Polycaprolactone (PCL) and hydroxyapatite (HA) in varying ratios, followed by an analysis of their reproducibility and mechanical integrity under varying environmental printing conditions. Computational analysis involved both solid mechanics and fluid-structure interactions to assess scaffold mechanical performance and provide insights into nutrient transport and porous continuity. |