Page 173 - v11i4

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Innovative design and compression performance

of selective laser melting-printed tantalum
artificial vertebral bodies

Yutao Zhang 1 id , Wurikaixi Aiyiti * , Jintao Li , Yong Huang , and Xiaohong
1,2
1,3
2 id
Dong 1
1 Xinjiang Coal Mine Electromechanical Engineering Technology Research Center, School of
Electromechanical Engineering, Xinjiang Institute of Engineering, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
2 Xinjiang Additive Remanufacturing Technology Key Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering,
Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
3
Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Technology for Building Steel Structures of Xinjiang
Production and Construction Corps, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China

Abstract
Tantalum (Ta) holds considerable potential for clinical applications in artificial
vertebral bodies (AVBs) owing to its excellent biocompatibility. A novel Ta AVB
structure was engineered by combining thin-walled structure topology optimization
with lattice structure filling design methods. Three types of Ta AVBs—designated
as AVB-1, AVB-2, and AVB-3—were fabricated using selective laser melting. The
influence of sidewall curvature on the mechanical properties and deformation
behavior of AVBs was investigated through compression tests and finite element
*Corresponding author: analysis. The elastic modulus and yield strength of the Ta lattice structures ranged
Wurikaixi Aiyiti from 1.75 to 3.21 GPa and 31 to 65 MPa, respectively. Incorporating topologically thin
(wurikaixi@xju.edu.cn)
walls enhanced the elastic modulus and yield strength by factors of 2.26–3.77 and
Citation: Zhang Y, Aiyiti W, Li J, 3–3.62, respectively. A decrease in sidewall curvature was associated with an increase
Huang Y, Dong X. Innovative design in both elastic modulus and yield strength of the AVBs. Specifically, as the sidewall
and compression performance
−1
of selective laser melting-printed curvature decreased from 0.027 to 0 mm , the elastic modulus and yield strength
tantalum artificial vertebral bodies. increased by factors of 2.76 and 2.19, respectively. The yield strengths of the AVBs
Int J Bioprint. 2025;11(4):165-188. were comparable to those of human cortical bone. Among the three designs, AVB-2
doi: 10.36922/IJB025150133
exhibited the highest yield-strength-to-elastic-modulus ratio (0.029), compared to
Received: April 11, 2025 AVB-1 and AVB-3 (0.024 and 0.019, respectively), suggesting that the optimal sidewall
Revised: May 5, 2025 −1
Accepted: May 16, 2025 curvature is 0.014 mm . AVB-2 effectively mitigated the stress shielding effect while
Published Online: May 16, 2025 maximizing the load-bearing capacity, indicating its significant potential for clinical
applications.
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Keywords: Tantalum; Selective laser melting; Artificial vertebral body;
License, permitting distribution, Lattice structure; Topology optimization
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with 1. Introduction
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Total en bloc spondylectomy is an effective treatment for spinal tumors and tuberculosis.
affiliations. This procedure involves the complete removal of the diseased vertebral body and the

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 165 doi: 10.36922/IJB025150133