Mechanical and Biological Behaviors of Body Centered Cubic and Cubic Lattices for Hip Implant Applications

A suitable combination of mechanical, topographical, and biological responses enhances implant‐bone interaction and ensures successful patient outcomes. In this regard, body‐centered‐cubic (BCC) and cubic lattices are designed and fabricated with porosity ranging between 50% and 80%. Finite element analysis and uniaxial tensile tests are conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the lattices. Roughness and wettability are studied to evaluate the topographical properties. The biological behavior is studied through in vitro response of MG‐63 cells on scaffolds after 1, 4, and 7 d. Two types of surfaces, as‐fabricated and heat‐treated, are prepared for roughness, wettability measurements, and in vitro experiments. The mechanical tests reveal that BCC and cubic lattices can mimic femoral bone properties at 60% and 65% porosity, respectively. The R a values are found to be ≈12 μm for the as‐produced and 1.2 to 3 μm for the heat‐treated lattices. Hydrophobic and super‐hydrophilic natures have been observed with as‐fabricated and heat‐treated scaffolds during the wettability experiment, respectively. The in vitro response shows the most favorable cell proliferations in heat‐treated cubic lattices compared to other scaffolds. Based on these observations, a novel porous short hip stem featuring a cubic porous structure has been designed and successfully fabricated using selective laser melting.