Biomechanical Performance of Additively Manufactured Bone‐Mimicking Scaffolds with Graded Architectures

The rise of additive manufacturing allows the fabrication of intricate geometries that mimic the naturally graded random porous structure of bones, particularly for applications in bone tissue engineering scaffolds. An in‐depth understanding of the mechanical load‐bearing capability and fluid transport abilities of these scaffolds is essential for ensuring reliability and improving patient outcomes. This study investigates the biomechanical performance of different functionally graded stochastic lattice structures manufactured using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) route with polylactic acid (PLA) as the material. The designs maintain a similar porosity level (55%), with grading applied axially, radially, and along inclined planes. The scaffolds have up to ≈60% higher yield strength and ≈16% higher Young's modulus under dynamic impact loads compared to quasi‐static loading. Moreover, the propagation pattern of fractures varies with grading type. Experimental fluid permeability values of the scaffolds are comparable to those of natural bone. Overall, this work confirms a notable influence of grading direction on both mechanical and fluid flow properties.