Title Early-stage stability and degradation of patient-specific biodegradable 3D-printed implants for critical mandibular reconstruction
Authors Wang, Hsuan-Wen ; Chang, Chiao-Min ; Cheng, Yen ; Šimoliūnas, Egidijus ; Lee, Pao-Wei ; Tsai, Wei-Che ; Lin, Chun-Li
DOI 10.1016/j.dental.2026.01.003
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Is Part of Dental materials.. Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Academy of Dental Materials. 2026, vol. 42, iss. 5, p. 790-806.. ISSN 0109-5641. eISSN 1879-0097
Keywords [eng] biodegradable implant ; dynamic loading simulation ; finite element analysis ; gradient lattice design ; hydrolytic degradation ; mandibular reconstruction ; PCL/β-TCP composite ; topology optimization
Abstract [eng] Objective: This study aimed to develop patient-specific biodegradable mandibular implants composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) reinforced with 30 wt% β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) using fused deposition modeling (FDM), and to evaluate how gradient lattice structural designs influence early postoperative mechanical stability and degradation behavior in critical-sized mandibular defects, thereby establishing practical design criteria for reliable reconstruction. Methods: Gradient lattice architectures were designed by finite element–based topology optimization, assigning dense lattices (P06, ∼1000 μm pores) to high-stress regions and larger pores (P08, ∼1500 μm) to low-stress zones. Two implant spans were investigated: RI-2, with an arc length approximately twice the average bone width, and RI-3, with an arc length about three times the bone width. Mechanical properties were characterized by tensile and four-point bending tests, and a dual-mode platform applied hydrolytic degradation and cyclic loading (20–200 N, 1 Hz) to replicate early postoperative oral conditions. Results: The PCL/β-TCP composite showed an elastic modulus of 450 ± 20 MPa and cell viability of average 84.5 %. Four-point bending revealed that the RI-2 design achieved a proof load of 83.8 ± 5.3 N and bending strength of 1466 ± 92 N·mm, 2.35-fold higher than RI-3. Under dual hydrolysis–loading, all RI-2 implants maintained structural integrity for one month, whereas RI-3 failed after 14.4 ± 1.2 days. Micro-CT confirmed greater dimensional stability of P06 versus P08 lattices. Significance: This work demonstrates that high-content PCL/β-TCP composites can be reliably 3D printed into stress-adaptive mandibular implants, and establishes quantitative design thresholds for balancing early mechanical support with degradation in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction.
Published Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Academy of Dental Materials
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2026
CC license CC license description