Mohith Kumar Sathish Kumar, “Magnesium Based Tissue Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration”
Mentor: Pradeep Rohatgi, Materials Science & Engineering, Engineering & Applied Science (College of)
Poster #141
The biodegradability, mechanical qualities, and capacity to promote bone cell proliferation of magnesium-based tissue scaffolds have drawn interest in the field of bone regeneration. In order to create a strong mechanical scaffold, this study used investment casting and sintering, forming a negative mold with polylactic acid (PLA). Following a burnout of the mold, die casting was used to introduce molten magnesium. Assessing the gyroid cell structure to existing scaffold architectures, it showed a markedly improved mechanical strength and potential for bone regeneration. Because of its perfect porosity and load-bearing capacity, the gyroid structure is a great choice for bone scaffolding applications. One of the main issues during the three testing trials was the investment mold’s tendency to fracture. The usage of sand that was not rated for investment casting and PLA’s thermal expansion were found to be contributing factors to mold failure. Additionally, problems with magnesium melting and flow were caused by oxygen seeping into the die-casting chamber. It is imperative that these issues be resolved in order to increase the fabrication reliability of magnesium scaffolds. The magnesium scaffold sustained significant levels of bone cell proliferation, according to cell viability research, which suggests that it could accelerate bone healing. Because magnesium scaffolds may be used as bioresorbable implants that do not require additional procedures to remove hardware, this project has important practical implications in orthopedic and trauma surgery. By improving casting methods for implants made of magnesium, the discoveries also help to progress with the manufacture of biomaterials. In the end, creating more robust and dependable biodegradable scaffolds may enhance patient outcomes and open the door to more advanced bone tissue creation techniques.