3D printed coral-inspired material can heal bones

Anyone who has recovered from a broken bone knows that these sophisticated limbs have a remarkable ability to repair themselves. But even bones have limits. For severe fractures or defects caused by tumors, surgeons often implant bone grafts, which act as a type of temporary scaffold and guide the bone toward repair. These transplants have historically come from parts of the patient’s own body or from a donor, which can limit their availability and increase the potential risk of surgical infection. Now a UK-based scientist is trying to modernize this approach by 3D printing a new bone graft material inspired by corals in the sea.

Swansea University researcher Zhidao Xia has developed and patented a 3D printed biomimetic material that mimics the porous structures and chemical composition of corals and used it as a bone graft substitute. Xia, who published his findings in the journal this week Bioactive materials implanted the material into broken tibias of mice and found that it promoted new bone growth in just two to four weeks. The 3D printed material naturally breaks down in animals within 6-12 months, leaving behind only healthy bones. Although the research has not tested the effects on humans, Xia believes the new approach could one day help “bridge the gap” between limited natural bone grafts and less effective synthetic alternatives.

“Our invention bridges the gap between synthetic substitutes and donor bone,” Xia said in a statement. “We have shown that it is possible to develop a material that is safe, effective and scalable to meet global demand. This could end the reliance on donor bone and resolve the ethical and supply issues surrounding bone transplantation.”

3D printed coral transplants could offer the performance of bone and the availability of plastics

Currently, patients who need bone grafts can usually choose between real bone, obtained from their own body or that of a donor, or synthetic alternatives. Plastics are often more readily available, but they also have disadvantages. Biodegradation often takes a long time, which can lead to poor bone integration or cause inflammation and other side effects. Corals, whose porous structure resembles the spongy structure of human bones, have previously been used as a source of transplantation but are also found in relatively limited abundance in nature. This new approach attempts to find a middle ground. The 3D representation of the coral-like materials allows surgeons to quickly access a supply of transplant material.

Xia and his research colleagues tested the 3D printed transplants in laboratory experiments on mice. The experiment showed that the graft material helped repair the defect within 3-6 months. It also triggered the formation of a “new layer of strong, healthy cortical bone” within four weeks. Xia believes the approach could increase the availability of transplant material and reduce medical costs as the technology expands.

The new coral material is just one of many ways 3D printing is impacting healthcare. Medical students and doctors have been using 3D printed replicas of bone organs for years in research and even in some consultations with patients. Dentists are already using the technology to create 3D printed dental implants and teeth straightening devices. More advanced “bioprinters” are also already being used to create completely new organs from human tissue samples.

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