In Vitro Proliferation of MG-63 Cells in Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Biomimetic Lattice Structures with Varying Strut Geometry and Porosity

Lattice structures have demonstrated the ability to provide secondary stability in orthopedic implants by promoting internal bone growth. In response to the growing prevalence of lattices in orthopedic design, we investigated the effects of porosity and unit cell geometry in additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V biomimetic lattice structures on the osteogenesis of human MG-63 osteoblastic cell lines in vitro. We analyzed glucose consumption, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentration, and end-of-culture cell count as markers for osteogenic growth. Two different strut geometries were utilized (cubic and body-centered cubic), along with four different pore sizes (400, 500, 600, and 900 µm, representing 40-90% porosity in a 10 mm cube), in addition to a solid specimen. Structural characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that lattices with a 900 µm pore size exhibited the highest glucose consumption, the greatest change in ALP activity, and the highest cell count when compared to other pore sizes. Cubic 900 µm lattice structures outperformed other specimens in facilitating the maturation of viable MG-63 cells from the formation to the mineralization phase of bone remodeling, offering the most promise for osseointegration in additively manufactured titanium implants in the future. However, irrespective of a particular pore size or unit cell geometry, it was found that all the lattices were capable of promoting osteogenic growth due to surface roughness in the printed parts.