Voronoistructure-based, individually load-adapted implants made of polymer bone substitutes
| Term | 11.08.2025 - 31.12.2027 |
| Overall project | Voronoistructure-based individually load-adapted implants made of polymeric bone substitutes |
| Acronym | VoroBone |
| Project funding | EFRE InfraProNet 2021-2027 |
| Funding code | 100756037 |
| Project management | |
| Processor | Dipl.-Ing. Alexandra Schaaf |
| Partner | Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology at TU Dresden |
Motivation
Individual bone replacement implants are already being used to treat patients following accidents or tumor diseases. Titanium is the preferred material for permanent implants due to its high strength, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, its higher stiffness compared to human bone leads to mechanical stresses at the interface, which can cause loosening in the long term. This requires stressful revision surgery and increases healthcare costs. Research is investigating alternative materials such as PMMA, ceramics and PEEK, which offer bone-like stiffness and reduce the risk of loosening. A disadvantage of these materials is their smooth surface, which is less effective in supporting cell growth. Additive manufacturing processes offer advantages here, as they enable geometric adjustments and the integration of complex internal structures.
Objective
The central aim of the VoroBone project is to research non-metallic, individualized bone replacement implants with a novel, increased degree of functional integration through the use of defined, cellular structures based on Voronoi diagrams. These offer the advantage of being controllable in size and shape to promote osseointegration and allow local adjustment of stiffness to the properties of the bone.
Project content
The first aim of the project is to adapt lattice cell shapes and sizes to biological boundary conditions in order to promote osseointegration. At the same time, manufacturing constraints (rod thicknesses, support requirements, etc.) will also be taken into account. Depending on the anatomical situation of the application cases, load-bearing non-metallic structures are to be developed whose properties approximate those of real trabecular bone. For this purpose, algorithmic-mathematical foundations for synthesis and, based on this, methods for controlling the lattice structures (cell shapes, rod orientations, etc.) in a targeted manner using three-dimensional control fields are created. The developed structures are validated using load-dependent simulations and a demonstrator.
