Comparison of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy membrane prototypes for bone defect repair made by laser sintering and electron beam melting

A comparative analysis of the microstructure and mechanical properties of guided bone regeneration frame membranes made from Ti6Al4V titanium alloy powder using 3D printing technology is presented in this paper. Two different methods were used to produce the samples: direct laser sintering of metals (DMLS) and electron beam melting (EBM). The plates, measuring 30×10×1 mm, were formed from layers 30 µm thick. The surface morphology of the samples was studied at both the micro and macro levels using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning impulse acoustic microscopy (SIAM). Biocompatibility was assessed both in vitro with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) cultures and in vivo with laboratory animals. Mechanical properties were evaluated using a three-point bending test, which revealed differences in surface profile depth that was 100 and 150 µm for the DMLS and EBM correspondingly. Samples produced using DMLS technology demonstrated higher strength 2,180±20.7 MPa and elasticity 53,449±200 MPa than those produced by EBM strength 1500±26.1 and elasticity 25,633±125 MPa, according to the results of the mechanical tests. A more active proliferation of MSCs was observed in vitro in the DMLS samples, which was 70% higher compared to EMB and the control group. The bone tissue response to both types of titanium implants was good, with high levels of osseointegration, as confirmed by X-ray microtomography (µCT).