Implantes biodegradáveis em ferro poroso obtidos por fabrico aditivo

This project propose is to create a concept of a biodegradable prosthesis with structures of varying density and different unit cells to be used as temporary fixation devices, with the goal of degrading at the same rate as bone growth or tissue healing. To meet the challenge of producing complex structures it will be used an advanced additive manufacturing (AM) method, such as sintered laser melting (SLM). This new line of research will evaluate the effect of the design of iron scaffolds, produced by additive manufacturing, on the resulting properties, in order to obtain the appropriate characteristics for temporary bone implants. The project aims to develop a biodegradable prototype, based on a real case, which will be developed and subjected to cytocompatibility and microbiology tests. The combination of biodegradable iron and additive manufacturing (AM) leads to a significant change in metallic implants in many aspects, including materials, design, manufacturing, and clinical applications. To achieve this goal, a multidisciplinary team of researchers from IDMEC, INEGI, CeFEMA, IPS, and FMUP/CINTESIS, combining specialists in materials engineering, mechanical engineering, and microbiology, will work in direct collaboration with industrial consultants (BioCeramed) and clinical consultants (orthopedists). The collaboration between university, industry, and medicine will be crucial to generate high-quality innovative results with scientific impact. The definition of new research lines with economic viability can have repercussions on technology transfer and, in the long term, on the well-being and active aging of populations.