Hyperelastic 3D Printed Material Helps Heal Bones
Scientists have developed a new bioengineered “bone”, which has already helped mend bone injuries in rats and monkeys, according to Popular Science. These 3D printed grafts are made from hydroxyapatite, a mineral found in bones, and a biodegradable polymer. This makes these implants much more flexible than their traditional counterparts.
When report coauthor Ramille Shah of Northwestern University and her colleagues placed human stem calls taken from bone marrow on a sample of hyperelastic “bone”, that alone was enough to prompt the stem cells to mature into bone cells. This “scaffolding” served as a source for the cells to create their own natural materials.
Tests were performed on mice, rats, and monkeys – all of which were successful. And while other traditional materials may be difficult for surgeons to manipulare. “Hyperelastic ‘bone,’ on the other hand, can be easily cut, rolled, folded, and sutured to tissue,” Shah said. “And since it is elastic, it can be pressed, fit into a defect, and expand to mechanically fix itself into a space without glue or sutures.”
Shah and her team hope to begin clinical trials within the next five years.
