Poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) resin is the main material to fabricate complete dentures and implant-supported dentures due to its low cost, good physicochemical properties, and acceptable esthetics.[1-4] Dimensional changes, roughness, susceptibility to fracture, and wettability have been reported as the main drawbacks of PMMA. [5] Issues with its mechanical properties due to manufacturing process, polishing techniques, and dental hygiene of patients may increase denture-associated infections, [6] plaque accumulation, [7] and adhesion of candida albicans. [8,9] Removable dentures are commonly fabricated conventionally pouring a fluid resin and mold filling techniques (compression and injection molding). [10][11][12] In recent years, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technologies have allowed the fabrication of removable dentures, record bases, and implant-supported overdentures with subtractive (milling) or additive (3D printing) procedures. [13] Compared with the traditional workflow, the digital workflow reduces time, cost, processing steps,

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Advances in additive manufacturing technologies facilitate the fabrication of cellular materials that have tailored functional characteristics. The application of solid freeform fabrication techniques is especially exploited in designing scaffolds for tissue engineering. In this review, firstly, a classification of cellular materials from a geometric point of view is proposed; then, the main approaches on geometric modeling of cellular materials are discussed. Finally, an investigation on porous scaffolds fabricated by additive manufacturing technologies is pointed out. Perspectives in geometric modeling of scaffolds for tissue engineering are also proposed.

a b s t r a c tThis paper presents a comprehensive series of mechanical tests performed on two high performance polymeric fibres, microbraids and microbraid reinforced polymer composites (mBRPC). Quasi-static tests were performed on the raw materials and the effect of different gauge lengths and strain rates investigated. Then, microbraids having sub-millimetre diameters were manufactured from the raw yarns using a Maypole-type braiding machine. The effects of different braid architectures, number of braided yarns and bias angles were assessed through a series of tensile tests on dry microbraids. A novel and unique manufacturing method of aligning microbraids in a unidirectional fashion via robotised filament winding was developed to manufacture microbraid reinforced polymer composites (mBRPC). Quasi-static tensile tests performed on mBRPC showed improved mechanical properties, for certain architectures, with respect to those noted for unidirectional composites manufactured using same technique.