Biomaterials 3D-printed for bone tissue engineering
Bone tissue engineering, a growing field in orthopedics, can be used to repair skeletal defects that are not healing on their own. It combines materials science, tissue-engineering, and regenerative medicines. Materials scientists are aiming to create a biomaterial that mimics natural bone using cost-effective manufacturing methods to provide a framework for support that biodegrades when new bone forms. BTE applications to restore large defects in the bone have yet to be translated from the lab bench into clinical practice. This field is active, with growing research efforts and innovative technology.
Bioinks and cost-effective 3D printing combine to produce scaffolds. Recently, bioengineers from the Pennsylvania State University developed a composite of three materials that can be used to 3D-print porous, skeletal constructs. The core materials, polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolide) acid (PLGA), are two of the most commonly used synthetic, biocompatible biomaterials in BTE. The materials, which were published in the Journal of Materials Research now, showed favorable biological interactions in the lab, followed by positive results of bone regeneration in an in vivo animal model.
Moncal et al., recognizing that bone is a complex structural system, developed a bioink made of biocompatible PCL and PLGA particles. The bioink was made from biocompatible PCL and PLGA particles and hydroxyapatite(HAps), combining properties such as bone-like mechanical strengths, biodegradation, and guided reparative (osteoconduction), for assisted natural repair. The team then developed a custom-designed mechanical system that was mounted onto the Multi-Arm Bioprinter, previously developed by this group, in order to produce the 3D constructs.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-08-d-biomaterials-bone-tissue.html
