Titanium-tantalum-niobium-Zirconium (Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr) alloy is a new material which can be used in plastic surgery. However, there are drawbacks to these stents manufactured using traditional methods, such as irregular pore sizes, unsuitable mechanical features, and poor connectivity between the holes. In this study, porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr (60% titanium, 2% tantalum, 36% niobium and 2% zirconium) scaffolds were printed by selective laser melting, and the aperture was controlled between 300 and 400μm. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were evaluated, as well as in vitro osteogenesis and in vivo osteointegration. Compared with the porous Ti-6Al-4V scaffold, the porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffold produced superior cell proliferation and cell adhesion results with human bone mesenchymal stem cells. The osteogenic differentiation experiment showed that the osteogenic differentiation of Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr group was enhanced compared with Ti6Al4V group. After porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr or control scaffolds were implanted in the lateral lateral femoral terete defects of rabbits, initial radiological results confirmed the excellent osteogenic activity of the new 3D-printed scaffolds. Histological analysis further showed that the Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffold promoted bone regeneration and bone integration more effectively than the Ti6Al4V scaffold.
Our findings suggest that the fabrication of porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr stents has great potential for clinical orthopedic applications. After porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr or control scaffolds were implanted in the lateral lateral femoral terete defects of rabbits, initial radiological results confirmed the excellent osteogenic activity of the new 3D-printed scaffolds. Histological analysis further showed that the Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffold promoted bone regeneration and bone integration more effectively than the Ti6Al4V scaffold. Our findings suggest that the porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffoles manufactured by this method have considerable potential for clinical orthopedic applications. After porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr or control scaffolds were implanted in the lateral lateral femoral terete defects of rabbits, initial radiological results confirmed the excellent osteogenic activity of the new 3D-printed scaffolds. Histological analysis further showed that the Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffold promoted bone regeneration and bone integration more effectively than the Ti6Al4V scaffold. Our findings suggest that porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffoles manufactured by have considerable potential for clinical orthopedic applications. Histological analysis further showed that the Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffold promoted bone regeneration and bone integration more effectively than the Ti6Al4V scaffold. Our findings suggest that the porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffoles manufactured by this method have considerable potential for clinical orthopedic applications. Histological analysis further showed that the Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffold promoted bone regeneration and bone integration more effectively than the Ti6Al4V scaffold. Our findings suggest that porous Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr scaffoles manufactured have considerable potential for clinical orthopedic applications.
