Comparative analysis of structure and mechanical properties of porous PEEK and UHMWPE biomimetic scaffolds

The present study reports the results of comparative structural and mechanical analysis of highly porous PEEK and UHMWPE biomimetic scaffolds and hybrid scaffolds with bulk cortical-like and porous trabecular-like layers. A technique for the manufacturing of hydrophilic porous PEEK and UHMWPE was proposed and successfully implemented to create novel bi-polymer hybrid biomimetic PEEK/UHMWPE scaffolds. Thermopressing of polymer-NaCl mixtures and further desalination and surface etching were applied to obtain PEEK and UHMWPE scaffolds, having porosity of more than 60 and 90% vol. and pore sizes of 1-40 mu m and 80-700 mu m, respectively, to imitate the structure of natural cortical and trabecular bone. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.