FURI | Fall 2024

Design and 3D Printing of Non-metallic Bone Compression Screw Test Prototypes for Evaluation of Microwave Processing of Sol-Gel Bioceramic Coatings for Regenerative Orthopedic Applications

This research investigates the design and 3D printing of bone compression screw test prototypes for regenerative orthopedic applications with the use of a stereolithography (SLA) layer-by-layer printing process of photopolymerizable polymer resins. This study is focused on 3D printing of bone compression screw test substrates from photopolymerizable wax resins that can be used to evaluate the microwave processing of sol gel-derived bioceramic coatings, in situ. Although the SLA layer-by-layer nature of the process limits SLA-printed prototypes from achieving the mechanical properties achieved with bulk fabrication processes, SLA printing of photopolymerizable resins containing ceramic nanoparticles has shown promise. This research aims to contribute to developing effective, non-metallic orthopedic internal fixation devices to eliminate unplanned removal of metallic counterparts and improve patient outcomes.