| Abstract Scope |
Advancements in additive manufacturing in recent years have allowed the design of customized patient-specific implants. For bone reconstruction, metal implants are generally used, however, in recent years, metals have been replaced by polymers for bone repair due to reduced cost and better interaction with the peri-implant bone. Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is among the newer special thermoplastic engineering plastics and has shown reasonable biological, mechanical, and chemical properties. Here we present our comprehensive investigation of the printability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D-printed parts made of novel composite 3D printing filaments which contain metallic zinc, hydroxyapatite, and carbon fibers; and we present their potential to serve as bone reconstruction patient-specific implants. This investigation includes the optimization of the printing parameters, the study of anisotropic mechanical properties, and in vitro testing of the interaction between the surface area of the printed parts and human osteoblasts (bone cells). |