Researcher(s)
- Katelyn Miller, Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Michael Hast, Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
Critical-sized bone defects present severe clinical challenges, often requiring an extensive recovery process that involves two surgeries: first implanting a spacer and then implanting bone graft into that pocket of space. 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds are widely used in tissue engineering to support damaged tissue while it heals. These biodegradable scaffolds support cell adhesion and tissue regeneration. When used in the human body, they reduce the number of surgeries required from two to one and drastically improve recovery time. Bone cells will happily grow on the scaffolds, which means a spacer step is not required. However, inside the body, these scaffolds are exposed to continuous stresses and strains. Quasi-static compressive testing often fails to show how internal structure changes under repeated loads, which leaves a gap in our understanding of scaffold fatigue over time. When PCL scaffolds undergo repeated loading cycles, they can experience permanent changes in size, which are dependent on the forces applied. This can be thought of as the differences in impact on your bones when walking versus running. Therefore, the goal of my study was to evaluate how different cyclic loading activities change the size and shape of PCL scaffolds over time so they can be used effectively for bone regeneration.