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Despite significant advances in the design optimization of bone scaffolds for enhancing their biomechanical properties, the functionality of these synthetic constructs remains suboptimal. One of the main challenges in the structural optimization of bone scaffolds is associated with the large uncertainties caused by the manufacturing process, such as variations in scaffolds' geometric features and constitutive material properties after fabrication. Unfortunately, such non-deterministic issues have not been considered in the existing optimization frameworks, thereby limiting their reliability. To address this challenge, a novel multiobjective robust optimization approach is proposed here such that the effects of uncertainties on the optimized design can be minimized. This study first conducted computational analyses of a parameterized ceramic scaffold model to determine its effective modulus, structural strength, and permeability. Then, surrogate models were constructed to formulate explicit mathematical relationships between the geometrical parameters (design variables) and mechanical and fluidic properties. The Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) was adopted to generate the robust Pareto solutions for an optimal set of trade-offs between the competing objective functions while ensuring the effects of the noise parameters to be minimal. Note that the nondeterministic optimization of tissue scaffold presented here is the first of its kind in open literature, which is expected to shed some light on this significant topic of scaffold design and additive manufacturing in a more realistic way. more...

A current challenge in bone tissue engineering is to create favourable biomechanical conditions conducive to tissue regeneration for a scaffold implanted in a segmental defect. This is particularly the case immediately following surgical implantation when a firm mechanical union between the scaffold and host bone is yet to be established via osseointegration. For mandibular reconstruction of a large segmental defect, the position of the fixation system is shown here to have a profound effect on the mechanical stimulus (for tissue regeneration within the scaffold), structural strength, and structural stiffness of the tissue scaffold-host bone construct under physiological load. This research combines computer tomography (CT)-based finite element (FE) modelling with multiobjective optimisation to determine the optimal height and angle to place a titanium fixation plate on a reconstructed mandible so as to enhance tissue ingrowth, structural strength and structural stiffness of the scaffold-host bone construct. To this end, the respective design criteria for fixation plate placement are to: (i) maximise the volume of the tissue scaffold experiencing levels of mechanical stimulus sufficient to initiate bone apposition, (ii) minimise peak stress in the scaffold so that it remains intact with a diminished risk of failure and, (iii) minimise scaffold ridge displacement so that the reconstructed jawbone resists deformation under physiological load. First, a CT-based FE model of a reconstructed human mandible implanted with a bioceramic tissue scaffold is developed to visualise and quantify changes in the biomechanical responses as the fixation plate's height and/or angle are varied. The volume of the scaffold experiencing appositional mechanical stimulus is observed to increase with the height of the fixation plate. Also, as the principal load-transfer mechanism to the scaffold is via the fixation system, there is a significant ingress of appositional stimulus from the buccal side towards the centre of the scaffold, notably in the region bounded by the screws. Next, surrogate modelling is implemented to generate bivariate cubic polynomial functions of the three biomechanical responses with respect to the two design variables (height and angle). Finally, as the three design objectives are found to be competing, bi- and tri-objective particle swarm optimisation algorithms are invoked to determine the most optimal Pareto solution, which represents the best possible trade-off between the competing design objectives. It is recommended that consideration be given to placing the fixation system along the upper boundary of the mandible with a small clockwise rotation about its posterior end. The methodology developed here forms a useful decision aid for optimal surgical planning. more...

Spider major ampullate (MA) silk is characterized by high strength and toughness and is adaptable across environments. Experiments depriving spiders of protein have enabled researchers to examine nutritionally induced changes in gene expression, protein structures, and bulk properties of MA silk. However, it has not been elucidated if it varies in a similar way at a nanoscale. Here we used Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to simultaneously examine the topographic, structural, and mechanical properties of silks spun by two species of spider, Argiope keyserlingi and Latrodectus hasselti, at a nanoscale when protein fed or deprived. We found height, a measure of localized width, to substantially vary across species and treatments. We also found that Young's modulus, which may be used as an estimate of localized stiffness, decreased with protein deprivation in both species' silk. Our results suggest that nanoscale skin-core structures of A. keyserlingi's MA silk varied significantly across treatments, whereas only slight structural and functional variability was found for L. hasselti's silk. These results largely agreed with examinations of the bulk properties of each species' silk. However, we could not directly attribute the decoupling between protein structures and bulk mechanics in L. hasselti's silk to nanoscale features. Our results advance the understanding of processes inducing skin and core structural variations in spider silks at a nanoscale, which serves to enhance the prospect of developing biomimetic engineering programs. more...

Collagen and elastic fibers are two major fibrous constituents of the annulus fibrosus (AF) in the disc that contribute to its mechanical and viscoelastic properties. It was thought that elastic fibers play no substantial role in the function and properties of the disc as these fibers were irregularly distributed. Studies that have revealed highly organized elastic fibers with different regional orientation and distribution, while being strongly crosslinked with matrix, suggesting their contribution to disc structure-function properties. These studies that were performed by light microscopic analysis of histologically prepared samples, have not been able to reveal the fine-scale architectural details of the elastic fiber network. Since elastic fibers are intermingled with other fibrous components of the disc and mostly obscured by the extracellular matrix, it is difficult to demonstrate their ultra-structural organization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Therefore the aim of this study was to develop a rapid matrix digestion technique for ultrastructural analysis of the disc elastic fibers. This study provides a new method for fundamental visualization of elastic fibers and their architecture in the disc. Through the ultra-structural analysis, the relationship between structure and function, as well as the role of elastic fibers on AF mechanical properties can be studied. This method may be used to develop a three-dimensional map of elastic fibers distribution within the disc, which would provide valuable information for designing tissue engineered scaffolds for AF repair and replacement. more...

Wound healing as a complex biological process greatly affects the quality of patients׳ lives. The high initial cost of wound treatment using advanced wound dressing is a major concern that warrants more attention. Because of the similarities between body macromolecules and polysaccharides and proteoglycans, gelatin and starch were used extensively as wound dressings; however their solubility in aqueous environment is known as a major drawback. Crosslinking, as a common method for enhancing mechanical properties, has its own limitation as some chemical cross-likers reduce biocompatibility. In this research, a simple and economical method for the fabrication of a novel wound dressing foam based on natural polymers of starch and gelatin with borax as the crosslinking agent is introduced. To evaluate the utility of the foams for wound dressing application, morphology, swelling behaviour and kinetics of swelling, vapour permeability, dimension stability, their mechanical properties and cytotoxicity as well as their ability to control release properties were examined as a function of crosslinking density. It was found that however, all borax-induced-samples show acceptable biocompatibility, incorporation of 30% borax solution optimises their mechanical properties. more...