Abstract:
The meniscus plays a critical role in shock absorption and joint stabilization in the knee; however, safe and effective meniscal implants remain clinically unavailable. Native meniscal tissue is composed of circumferentially aligned collagen fibers embedded in a glycosaminoglycan-rich matrix, exhibiting the characteristic architecture of a fiber-reinforced composite. Based on structural biomimetic principles, a meniscus implant was designed using 3D-printed continuous fiber-reinforced polymer composites, and corresponding finite element models were established. Using pure polycaprolactone (PCL) and silk fiber–reinforced PCL composites as representative materials, the macroscopic ultimate load-bearing capacity of the implants was evaluated, followed by an in-depth analysis of the impact of fiber–matrix interfacial shear strength (IFSS) on damage initiation and failure evolution. Simulation results indicate that introducing continuous silk fibers into high-stress regions of the implant significantly reduces stress concentration within the PCL matrix, thereby enhancing structur IFSS al stability under ultimate loading. Under strong interface bonding (IFSS = 60 MPa), the vertical compressive modulus and circumferential tensile modulus of the implant reached 14.96 MPa and 20.00 MPa, respectively, representing 6.3-fold and 2.9-fold improvements over the PCL model. Interfacial performance is a critical factor governing reinforcement efficiency. Strong interfacial shear constraints ensure fiber load sharing exceeds 80%, effectively relieving matrix stress concentration. Conversely, weak interfaces (IFSS = 3.77 MPa) cause premature debonding that impedes load transfer, resulting in accelerated matrix yielding. By comparing failure evolution under different IFSS values, the optimal interface strength range for this system was determined to be 15 – 25 MPa. Within this range, the “fiber-interface-matrix” tripartite system achieves synergistic load-bearing, effectively balancing structural strength and fracture toughness. This study validates the feasibility of silk-reinforced polycaprolactone as a meniscus implant material and elucidates the critical role of interface engineering in continuous fiber-reinforced polyester composites, providing a theoretical basis for developing high-performance meniscus implants.