Biological Safety of Mixed Acid Heat Treatment in SLM (Selective Laser Melting Technique) Titanium Mesh

A titanium (Ti) mesh using the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technique was subjected to surface modification by mixed acid heating, and it was applied to a rat calvarial bone defect model. Safety of the mixed acid heat treatment on the surface was evaluated by investigating the inflammatory response based on macroscopic and microscopic findings. Worsening of inflammatory reactions was not observed in the SLM Ti mesh-embedded group at 2, 4 or 7 weeks. These results suggest that mixed acid and heat treatment surface modification Ti mesh is safe.