About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2027 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advanced Biomaterials and Implants
|
| Presentation Title |
Structural interface engineering enables native like mechanics in biomimetic intervertebral discs |
| Author(s) |
Haim Salim Salim Mordechai, Mirit Sharabi |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Haim Salim Salim Mordechai |
| Abstract Scope |
Intervertebral disc (IVD) function depends on fibrous interfaces that connect the nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), and adjacent lamellae. Here, we used a reverse biomimetic strategy to quantify how interlamellar and radial fiber networks regulate cohesion, load transfer, and mechanical resilience. Aligned silk-fiber/alginate AF laminates were reinforced with silk sutures to emulate interlamellar connectivity, while integrated AF-NP constructs incorporated a GAG-analog NP and radial fibers spanning the disc-like structure. Mechanical tests were combined with finite element simulations. Cross-sutured laminates achieved high lap shear resistance (0.87 ± 0.06 MPa) and reduced tensile modulus variability from 43% to 4%. Radial fibers doubled AF-NP shear load capacity from 5.1 ± 0.2 N to 10.7 ± 0.2 N, constrained radial expansion, supported pressurization, and redistributed transition-zone stresses toward the mid and outer AF. These results show that targeted fibrous-interface engineering can improve biomimetic IVD mechanics and implant durability for soft-tissue repair applications overall. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Composites, Biomaterials, Computational Materials Science & Engineering |