Liu, Y;
Zhao, F;
Zhao, Y;
Shu, T;
Liu, S;
Wang, S;
Su, Y;
... Wang, L; + view all
(2025)
Build orientation effects on properties of SLS-printed PEEK for bone implants: Surface-physical-mechanical characteristics and in vitro cellular responses.
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
, 39
pp. 1915-1926.
10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.09.169.
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Abstract
Selective laser sintering (SLS) technology has been increasingly utilized for polyetheretherketone (PEEK) prostheses fabrication due to its high design freedom and manufacturing precision. However, the effects of build orientation—a fundamental processing parameter—on the multifaceted properties of SLS-printed PEEK components remain underexplored. This study systematically investigates PEEK components fabricated at build orientations from 0° to 80°. We found that build orientation dictated microstructural integrity, leading to a non-linear surface roughness trend (Ra peaking at 21.5 μm for the 30° orientation) and pronounced mechanical anisotropy, evidenced by a significant reduction in flexural strength at high orientations. In vitro, surface roughness induced by build orientation had a discernible but transient effect on early-stage cell proliferation. However, over long-term culture, both the high- and low-roughness surfaces demonstrated favorable cytocompatibility by supporting mature focal adhesions and equivalent cell growth. Crucially, by using substrate angulation to simulate the gravitational challenges implants encounter in vivo, we discovered that this extrinsic biomechanical force was a more dominant factor in modulating cell viability, with a critical sensitivity identified in the 30°–60° angulation range. In conclusion, this work highlights the significant role of build orientation in modulating the final properties of SLS-fabricated PEEK, providing guidance for both printing process design and future clinical application.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Build orientation effects on properties of SLS-printed PEEK for bone implants: Surface-physical-mechanical characteristics and in vitro cellular responses |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.09.169 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.09.169 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| Keywords: | Selective laser sintering (SLS), Build orientation, Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), Surface roughness, Mechanical properties, Biological properties |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci > Department of Ortho and MSK Science |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10219433 |
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