Ugo D’Amora

Technical features and criteria in designing fiber-reinforced composite materials: from the aerospace and aeronautical field to biomedical applications.

Polymer-based composite materials are ideal for applications where high stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios are required. From aerospace and aeronautical field to biomedical applications, fiber-reinforced polymers have replaced metals, thus emerging as an interesting alternative. As widely reported, the mechanical behavior of the composite materials involves investigation on micro- and macro-scale, taking into consideration micromechanics, macromechanics and lamination theory. Clinical situations often require repairing connective tissues and the use of composite materials may be suitable for these applications because of the possibility to design tissue substitutes or implants with the required mechanical properties. Accordingly, this review aims at stressing the importance of fiber-reinforced composite materials to make advanced and biomimetic prostheses with tailored mechanical properties, starting from the basic principle design, technologies, and a brief overview of composites applications in several fields. Fiber-reinforced composite materials for artificial tendons, ligaments, and intervertebral discs, as well as for hip stems and mandible models will be reviewed, highlighting the possibility to mimic the mechanical properties of the soft and hard tissues that they replace.

A route toward the development of 3D magnetic scaffolds with tailored mechanical and morphological properties for hard tissue regeneration: Preliminary study: A basic approach toward the design of 3D rapid prototyped magnetic scaffolds for hard-tissue regeneration is presented and validated in this paper

A basic approach toward the design of three-dimensional (3D) rapid prototyped magnetic scaffolds for hard-tissue regeneration has been proposed. In particular, 3D scaffolds consisting of a poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix and iron oxide (Fe3O4) or iron-doped hydroxyapatite (FeHA) nanoparticles were fabricated through a 3D fibre deposition technique. As a first approach, a polymer to nanoparticle weight ratio of 90/10 (wt/wt) was used. The effect of the inclusion of both kinds of nanoparticles on the mechanical, magnetic, and biological performances of the scaffolds was studied. The inclusion of Fe3O4 and FeHA nanoparticles generally improves the modulus and the yield stress of the fibres if compared to those of neat PCL, as well as the modulus of the scaffolds. Micro-computed tomography has confirmed the possibility to design morphologically-controlled structures with a fully interconnected pore network. Magnetisation analyses performed at 37°C have highlighted M-H curves that are not hysteretic; values of saturation magnetisation (Ms) of about 3.9 emu/g and 0.2 emu/g have been evaluated for PCL/Fe3O4 and PCL/FeHA scaffolds, respectively. Furthermore, results from confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) carried out on cell-scaffold constructs have evidenced that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) better adhered and were well spread on the PCL/Fe3O4 and PCL/FeHA nanocomposite scaffolds in comparison with the PCL structures.

Galactose grafting on poly(ε-caprolactone) substrates for tissue engineering: a preliminary study

The grafting of galactose units onto poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) substrates by a wet chemistry two-step procedure is proposed. Even though a reduction of hardness from 0.58-0.31 GPa to 0.12-0.05 GPa is achieved, the chemical functionalization does not negatively affect the tensile modulus (332.2±31.3 MPa and 328.5±34.7 MPa for unmodified and surface-modified PCL, respectively) and strength (15.1±1.3 MPa and 14.8±1.5 MPa as assessed before and after the surface modification, respectively), as well as the mechanical behaviour evaluated through small punch test. XPS and enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) demonstrate the presence, and also the correct exposition of the saccharidic epitope on PCL substrates. The introduction of carbohydrate moieties on the PCL surfaces clearly enhances the hydrophilicity of the substrate, as the water contact angle decreases from 82.1±5.8° to 62.1±4.2°. Furthermore, preliminary biological analysis shows human mesenchymal stem cell viability over time and an improvement of cell adhesion and spreading.

Reverse engineering of mandible and prosthetic framework: Effect of titanium implants in conjunction with titanium milled full arch bridge prostheses on the biomechanics of the mandible

This study aimed at investigating the effects of titanium implants and different configurations of full-arch prostheses on the biomechanics of edentulous mandibles. Reverse engineered, composite, anisotropic, edentulous mandibles made of a poly(methylmethacrylate) core and a glass fibre reinforced outer shell were rapid prototyped and instrumented with strain gauges. Brånemark implants RP platforms in conjunction with titanium Procera one-piece or two-piece bridges were used to simulate oral rehabilitations. A lateral load through the gonion regions was used to test the biomechanical effects of the rehabilitations. In addition, strains due to misfit of the one-piece titanium bridge were compared to those produced by one-piece cast gold bridges. Milled titanium bridges had a better fit than cast gold bridges. The stress distribution in mandibular bone rehabilitated with a one-piece bridge was more perturbed than that observed with a two-piece bridge. In particular the former induced a stress concentration and stress shielding in the molar and symphysis regions, while for the latter design these stresses were strongly reduced. In conclusion, prosthetic frameworks changed the biomechanics of the mandible as a result of both their design and manufacturing technology.

PCL loaded with sol-gel synthesized organic-inorganic hybrid fillers: From the analysis of 2D substrates to the design of 3D rapid prototyped composite scaffolds for tissue engineering

As reported in the literature, scaffolds for soft and hard tissue regeneration should satisfy several requirements. In the present work, the potential of 3D fiber deposition technique to design morphologically controlled scaffolds consisting of poly(e-caprolactone) reinforced with sol-gel synthesized organic-inorganic hybrid fillers was demonstrated, also benefiting from a basic study carried out on 2D composite substrates. Finite element analysis, biological and mechanical tests were properly performed to assess the effects of the inclusion of the hybrid fillers on the performances of 2D substrates and 3D structures.

An approach in developing 3D fiber‐deposited magnetic scaffolds for tissue engineering

Scaffolds should possess suitable properties to play their specific role. In this work, the potential of 3D fiber deposition technique to develop multifunctional and well‐defined magnetic poly(e‐caprolactone)/iron oxide scaffolds has been highlighted, and the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles on the biological and mechanical performances has been assessed.