Evaluation of the mechanical properties and cell cultural behavior of diamond lattice scaffolds with different porosities

Metal porous structures are a common treatment for bone tissue loss when the loss exceeds the self-repair capacity of the human body. The structural characteristics, mechanical properties, and biological behavior of scaffold biomaterials exert a significant influence on the formation of new bone cells. The objective of this study was to ascertain the mechanical and cell biological behavior of scaffold structures with four distinct porosities (60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%). Scaffold structures with a diamond lattice unit cell were manufactured by the selective laser melting method using a CoCr alloy powder with a diameter of 4 mm and a height of 5 mm and were then subjected to a static compression test. Subsequently, human gingival fibroblast cells were seeded into each sample via the cell culture process, and cell formation was observed. According to the results obtained from the compression test, the sample with 60% porosity demonstrated optimal mechanical performance and effective modulus of elasticity. In the cell culture process, the sample with 60% porosity exhibited the highest adherence rate. © IMechE 2025.