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).