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Microcomputed tomography and microfinite element modeling for evaluating polymer scaffolds architecture and their mechanical properties
Author(s) -
AlberichBayarri Angel,
Moratal David,
Ivirico Jorge L. Escobar,
Hernández José C. Rodríguez,
VallésLluch Ana,
MartíBonmatí Luis,
Estellés Jorge Más,
Mano Joao F.,
Pradas Manuel Monleón,
Ribelles José L. Gómez,
SalmerónSánchez Manuel
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.31389
Subject(s) - porosity , materials science , elastic modulus , finite element method , scaffold , composite material , modulus , scanning electron microscope , compression (physics) , stress (linguistics) , biomedical engineering , structural engineering , medicine , engineering , linguistics , philosophy
Detailed knowledge of the porous architecture of synthetic scaffolds for tissue engineering, their mechanical properties, and their interrelationship was obtained in a nondestructive manner. Image analysis of microcomputed tomography (μCT) sections of different scaffolds was done. The three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the scaffold allows one to quantify scaffold porosity, including pore size, pore distribution, and struts' thickness. The porous morphology and porosity as calculated from μCT by image analysis agrees with that obtained experimentally by scanning electron microscopy and physically measured porosity, respectively. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the scaffold were evaluated by making use of finite element modeling (FEM) in which the compression stress–strain test is simulated on the 3D structure reconstructed from the μCT sections. Elastic modulus as calculated from FEM is in agreement with those obtained from the stress–strain experimental test. The method was applied on qualitatively different porous structures (interconnected channels and spheres) with different chemical compositions (that lead to different elastic modulus of the base material) suitable for tissue regeneration. The elastic properties of the constructs are explained on the basis of the FEM model that supports the main mechanical conclusion of the experimental results: the elastic modulus does not depend on the geometric characteristics of the pore (pore size, interconnection throat size) but only on the total porosity of the scaffold. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009