Artículos de revistas
Replication of overmolded orthopedic implants with a functionalized thin layer of biodegradable polymer
Fecha
2018-06-26Registro en:
Polymers, v. 10, n. 7, 2018.
2073-4360
10.3390/polym10070707
2-s2.0-85049157425
2-s2.0-85049157425.pdf
Autor
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Port Said University
IK4-TEKNIKER
Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH
RHP Technology GmbH
Ernst Wittner Ges. m. b. H.
Alicona Imaging GmbH
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Institución
Resumen
The present paper reports on the development of a biodegradable overmolded orthopedic implant: a metal bone fixing screw, which has been overmolded with a functionalized thin layer of biodegradable polymer to enhance cell adhesion during the healing process. The main challenges were to integrate precise, high-throughput and repeatable solutions to achieve a thin, defect-free structured polymer layer and to ensure a high and consistent implant quality. The work carried out entailed determining proper materials (Purasorb PDLG 5010) for the biodegradable overmolding layer and its economical substitute (NaKu PLA 100HF) to be used during initial tool and process development, designing the surface structure of the overmolded polymer layer, development of injection molding tools, as well as feeding and handling procedures. The injection overmolding process of Purasorb PDLG 5010 polymer was controlled, and the process parameters were optimized. In particular, the dominant process parameters for the overmolding, namely injection pressure, barrel temperature and mold temperature, were experimentally examined using a circumscribed three-factor central composite design and two quality marks; overmolding roughness and mass of polymer. The analysis of the experimental results shows that the mass of the overmolding is not feasible for use as the quality mark. However, the optimal parameters for the overmolding of a metallic implant screw with a thin, micro-structured polymer layer with a predefined roughness of the surface texture have been identified successfully.