Open Access

Hüray Kök, Tonya AndreevaORCiD, Sebastian Stammkötter, Cindy Reinholdt, Osman Akbas, Anne Jahn, Florian Gamon, Sandra Fuest, Mirko Teschke, Miriam Schäfer, Michael Müller, Alexander Koch, Ole Jung, Mike BarbeckORCiD, Andreas Greuling, Ralf SmeetsORCiD, Jörg Hermsdorf, Rumen KrastevORCiD, Philipp Junker, Meike Stiesch, Frank Walther

• In the field of biomedical implants, additively manufactured titanium alloys, particularly Ti-6Al-4V, hold significant potential due to their biocompatibility and mechanical properties. This study focuses on the characterization and modeling of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V alloy for dental and maxillofacial implants, emphasizing fatigue behavior, surface modification, and their combined effects on cyto- and osseocompatibility. Experimental methods, including tensile, compression, and fatigue testing, were applied alongside in silico simulations to assess the long-term mechanical performance of the material. Surface properties were further modified through sandblasting and coating techniques to enhance cell adhesion and proliferation. By using in-vitro methods, the cytocompatibility of the coatings and materials was examined followed by in-vivo tests to determine osseocompatibility. Results demonstrated that appropriate surface roughness and modifications are essential in optimizing osseointegration, while the layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process influenced the fatigue life and stability. These findings contribute to the development of patient-specific implants, optimizing both mechanical integrity and biological integration for enhanced clinical outcomes. This work summarizes the investigations on additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V alloy of the research unit 5250 “Mechanism-based characterization and modeling of permanent and bioresorbable implants with tailored functionality based on innovative in vivo, in vitro and in silico methods” funded by the Germany Research Foundation (DFG).