Performance evaluation of artificial hip joints 3D-printed through stereolithography using dental resin reinforced with titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Hip osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease commonly associated with aging. One effective treatment to restore patients’ quality of life is total hip arthroplasty, in which the damaged hip joint is replaced with a prosthetic implant. Currently, there is a growing demand for customized artificial hip joints tailored to individual anatomical dimensions. However, the conventional casting method generally used to fabricate these implants is often considered ineffective. Additive manufacturing technology, also known as 3D printing, has emerged as a promising alternative. This technology enables the fabrication of complex designs with high accuracy and customizable geometries and sizes without altering the physical components of the 3D printing machine. This study aims to develop a 3D-printed artificial hip joint prosthesis using a dental photopolymer resin reinforced with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. The mechanical performance of the prostheses was evaluated through both experimental and simulated compression testing. Four concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles were tested, namely 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5%. The results showed that the prosthesis reinforced with 3% TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited the highest strength (717.2 N), while the one with 5% TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited the lowest strength (241.8 N).

- Gross JB, Guillaume C, Gégout-Pottie P, Mainard D, Presle N. Synovial fluid levels of adipokines in osteoarthritis: Association with local factors of inflammation and cartilage maintenance. Biomed Mater Eng. 2014;24(S1):17-25. doi: 10.3233/bme-140970
- Kurtz SM, Ong KL, Lau E, Bozic KJ. Impact of the economic downturn on total joint replacement demand in the United States. J Bone Joint Surg. 2014;96(8):624-630. doi: 10.2106/jbjs.m.00285
- Wang C, Sun B, Zhang Y, Wang C, Yang G. Design of a novel trabecular acetabular cup and selective laser melting fabrication. Materials. 2022;15(17):6142. doi: 10.3390/ma15176142
- Ismail R, Bayuseno AP, Fitriyana DF, et al. Mechanical properties characterization of Ti6Al4V for artificial hip joint materials prepared by investment casting. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2022;969(1):012001. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/969/1/012001
- Kang Y, Sun DH, Park JC, Kim J. Shape suitability and mechanical safety of customised hip implants: Three-dimensional printed acetabular cup for hip arthroplasty. J Orthop. 2022;34:166-172. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2022.08.011
- Guo N, Leu MC. Additive manufacturing: technology, applications and research needs. Front Mech Eng. 2013;8(3):215-243. doi: 10.1007/s11465-013-0248-8
- Grygier D, Kujawa M, Kowalewski P. Deposition of biocompatible polymers by 3D printing (FDM) on titanium alloy. Polymers. 2022;14(2):235. doi: 10.3390/polym14020235
- Ishihara K. Highly lubricated polymer interfaces for advanced artificial hip joints through biomimetic design. Polym J. 2015;47(9):585-597. doi: 10.1038/pj.2015.45
- Liqcreate. Digital Dentistry and Dental Resin 3D-Printing. Available from: https://www.liqcreate.com/supportarticles/ digital-dentistry-and-dental-resin-3d-printing [Last accessed on 2023 Aug 04].
- Esun. Dental Resin. Available from: https://www.esun3d. com/dental-resin/?gad_source=1&gclid=cj0kcqjwxeyxbh c7arisac7ds38iy-mpxesejk3hae1sh_yjox-m6bjfpr3ecyc6- kqwdopvify0k1oaao7_ealw_wcb [Last accessed on 2024 May 21].
- Da Costa RR, De Almeida FR, Da Silva AA, Domiciano SM, Vieira AF. Design of a polymeric composite material femoral stem for hip joint implant. Polímeros. 2019;29(4):354. doi: 10.1590/0104-1428.02119
- Alrahlah A, Khan R, Vohra F, et al. Influence of the physical inclusion of ZRO2/TIO2 nanoparticles on physical, mechanical, and morphological characteristics of PMMA-Based interim restorative material. Biomed Res Int. 2022;2022:1743019. doi: 10.1155/2022/1743019
- Bukichev YS, Bogdanova LM, Lesnichaya VA, Chukanov NV, Golubeva ND, Dzhardimalieva GI. Mechanical and thermophysical properties of epoxy nanocomposites with titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Appl Sci. 2023;13(7):4488. doi: 10.3390/app13074488
- Sun J, Watson SS, Allsopp DA, Stanley D, Skrtic D. Tuning photo-catalytic activities of TiO2 nanoparticles using dimethacrylate resins. Dent Mater. 2016;32(3):363-372. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2015.11.021
- Hada T, Kanazawa M, Miyamoto N, et al. Effect of different filler contents and printing directions on the mechanical properties for photopolymer resins. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(4):2296. doi: 10.3390/ijms23042296