Abstract / Summary
A novel hybrid implant for cartilage replacement was developed by integrating a silica‐poly(tetrahydrofuran) (SiO 2 ‐PolyTHF) sol–gel derived biomaterial into a 3D‐printed titanium (Ti) gyroid scaffold. Potential applications include knee cartilage or focal cartilage replacement. The hybrid material provides a cartilage‐mimicking, low‐friction bearing surface, while the Ti gyroid structure serves as a bone anchor to enable biological fixation through bone ingrowth (mechanical interlock). Integration of the hybrid into the Ti scaffold was optimized by tailoring the tetrahydrofuran:(3‐glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (THF:GPTMS) ratio to control gelation kinetics and shrinkage‐induced stress during sol–gel processing. This processing strategy enabled crack‐free integration of the hybrid within the Ti gyroid scaffold and promoted robust interfacial mechanical performance. The hybrid–Ti interface exhibited strong mechanical interlocking, evidenced by mechanical testing in compression, shear, and cyclic loading over a 90 day period in PBS. Tribology testing against fresh bovine cartilage revealed that the hybrid/Ti scaffold maintained a low friction coefficient against the cartilage (~0.1), comparable to native cartilage on cartilage, and significantly lower than UHMWPE on cartilage. The results highlight the hybrid/Ti gyroid scaffold as a promising solution for cartilage replacement, with advantages in mechanical performance, cartilage‐mimicking tribology, and biological integration potential.