Finite element analysis of porosity effects on mechanical properties for tissue engineering scaffold

Abstract

Porosity plays a vital role in the development of tissue engineering scaffolds. It influences the biocompatibility performance of the scaffolds by increasing cell proliferation and allowing the transportation of the nutrients, oxygen, and metabolites in the blood rapidly to generate new tissue structure. However, a high amount of porosity can reduce the mechanical properties of the scaffold. Thus, this study aims to determine the geometry of the porous structure of a scaffold which exhibits good mechanical properties while maintaining its porosity at a percentage of more than 80%. Circle and square geometries were used since they are categorized as simple geometry. A unit cell of 12mm x 12mm x 12mm for square shape and pore area of 25p mm2 for circle shape was modeled and simulated by using Finite Element Analysis. The simulation consists of a compression test that determines which geometry exhibits better Young’s Modulus. Since the circle geometry has better Young’s Modulus, the pore size was furthered varied while maintaining the porosity of the scaffold to be above 80%. The same method of the simulation was done on the models. The result shows that the smallest pore size model has the highest Young’s Modulus, which still able to maintain the porosity at 80%.