Scitke

Tag: Bone

  • Can Glass Replace Bone? Chinese Scientists 3D-Print Bone-like Bioglass

    Can Glass Replace Bone? Chinese Scientists 3D-Print Bone-like Bioglass

    Chinese researchers have developed 3D-printed bioglass that matches bone strength, supports cell survival for weeks, and could transform customized dental implants.
    Image Credits:Cientistas chineses criam biovidro em 3D que imita a força dos ossos, sustenta células por oito semanas e promete revolucionar implantes dentários.

    Chinese researchers have developed 3D-printed bioglass that matches bone strength, supports cell survival for weeks, and could transform customized dental implants.

    Glass is rarely thought of as a replacement for human bone, but Chinese scientists suggest it may be possible. They have created a bioactive, 3D-printable glass that replicates bone strength. Tests showed it supports cell growth longer than conventional glass and performs nearly as well as materials currently used in dental implants.

    How Glass Mirrors Bone

    Glass and bone have a key trait in common: they withstand compression more effectively than tension. This shared property has inspired new and ambitious research.

    Silica, the primary component of glass, becomes easily shapeable when molten, allowing implants to be formed to precisely match damaged skeletal areas.

    However, a major challenge remained: conventional glass 3D-printing methods rely on toxic plastic additives and temperatures exceeding 2,000°F, making them impractical for medical applications where safety and affordability are critical.

    The team led by Jianru Xiao, Tao Chen, and Huanan Wang pursued a safer approach by blending silica particles with calcium and phosphate ions—both known to encourage bone cell growth.

    Printing Without Toxic Additives

    The resulting mixture formed a printable gel that solidified at 690°C, eliminating the need for toxic additives used in traditional methods.

    To evaluate its performance, the researchers tested three materials: the new bioglass, standard silica glass, and a commercial dental bone substitute, using them to repair skull defects in rabbits.

    Although the commercial material triggered quicker early growth, the bioglass proved more durable. After eight weeks, many bone cells remained firmly bonded to the bioglass framework, while ordinary glass showed little to no cell attachment.

    The breakthrough extended beyond medicine to the manufacturing process itself. The researchers emphasized the technical advantages of their approach.

    Challenges of Conventional 3D Printing

    Traditional ceramic and glass 3D printing relies on organic binders and extremely high temperatures, driving up costs, reducing bioactivity, and posing potential toxic hazards.

    In contrast, the team used inorganic colloidal gels composed of silica nanospheres that bind through electrostatic attraction. This method enabled the creation of strong, additive-free structures, completed using relatively low heat via low-temperature sintering.

    The results were notable: the material achieved a compression modulus of about 2.3 MPa—enough to support bone. It also retained self-healing properties, improving print stability and precision.

    Promoting Real Bone Growth

    After sintering at 600°C, the printed structures remained stable, bioactive, and capable of promoting new bone growth in real-world tests.

    The researchers claim their approach opens the door to personalized, cost-effective, and high-performance implants.

    “The ‘green’ inorganic 3D printing method allowed affordable production of bioglass bone substitutes while maintaining bioactivity, enhancing bone formation and integration in vivo,” the authors explained.

    They also noted that the technique could be applied beyond medicine, including in energy and machinery industries.

    The complete study appeared in the journal ACS Nano.

    Read the original article on:Clickpetroleoegas

    Read more:Astronauts Splash down on Earth after a Space Station Medical Evacuation

  • A Glue Gun Applies Bone Graft Material Straight Onto Fractures in The Middle of Surgery

    A Glue Gun Applies Bone Graft Material Straight Onto Fractures in The Middle of Surgery

    A device resembling a glue gun that prints biodegradable bone grafts directly into fractures has the potential to transform orthopedic surgery by providing customized implants that promote faster healing and reduce infection risk.
    A modified glue gun prints bone grafts directly onto fractures during surgery
    Image Credits: Depositphotos

    A device resembling a glue gun that prints biodegradable bone grafts directly into fractures has the potential to transform orthopedic surgery by providing customized implants that promote faster healing and reduce infection risk.

    Fractures and bone loss from cancer surgeries often leave large defects, typically treated with bone grafts or metal implants. Researchers have explored many approaches to bone repair over the years, including grafts made from eggshells and piezoelectric scaffolds.

    Revolutionizing Personalized Bone Repair with 3D-Printed Grafts

    In a recent study, researchers from Korea and the U.S. created and tested a modified glue gun capable of 3D printing bone grafts directly onto fractures and bone defects during surgery.

    “Our technology introduces a novel approach by enabling in situ printing, which allows scaffolds to be fabricated and applied in real time at the surgical site,” said Jung Seung Lee, co-corresponding author and associate professor of biomedical engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), South Korea. “This method ensures precise anatomical fit, even for complex or irregular defects, without requiring pre-surgical steps like imaging, modeling, or trimming.”

    The researchers developed a glue gun-inspired device designed for low-temperature 3D printing, making it safe for application on living tissues. The device uses sticks made from a blend of polycaprolactone (PCL)—a biodegradable polymer—and hydroxyapatite (HA), a bone-derived mineral. This composite can be melted and extruded directly into bone defects without the need for toxic solvents. By adjusting the molecular weight of PCL and the HA content, they were able to control the material’s strength, flexibility, and degradation rate. The team evaluated properties such as compressive and bending strength, bone adhesion, and degradation in simulated body conditions. They also successfully incorporated antibiotics like vancomycin and gentamicin into the material.

    Preclinical Testing and Real-Time Surgical Control of 3D-Printed Bone Grafts

    Researchers initially tested mouse pre-osteoblasts (precursors to bone-forming cells) and human bone marrow stem cells to assess toxicity and support for bone cell growth. Following this, they tested the composite in a rabbit model with a femoral bone defect too large to heal on its own, comparing the performance of their 3D-printed material to commercial bone cement over a 12-week period.

    “Since the device is compact and manually operated, surgeons can control the printing direction, angle, and depth in real time during surgery,” said Lee. “We also demonstrated that surgeons can complete the entire process within minutes, providing a major advantage by reducing operative time and improving efficiency in real surgical settings.”

    The study’s graphical abstract
    Jeon, In Yeop et al. (2025)

    Enhanced Scaffold Performance and Antibacterial Properties Through Hydroxyapatite Integration

    The researchers discovered that adding hydroxyapatite (HA) to the composite improved its strength and elasticity, while also slowing its degradation—allowing the scaffold to remain in place long enough to support new bone growth. Higher molecular weight PCL enhanced the material’s adhesion to bone, though excessive HA slightly reduced this effect. Lab tests showed that scaffolds infused with antibiotics effectively inhibited bacterial growth, with gentamicin showing particularly strong results. No toxicity was observed. HA also promoted bone cell attachment, growth, and the transformation of precursor cells into mature bone cells.

    “This targeted delivery method offers clear clinical benefits over systemic antibiotic use by minimizing side effects and the risk of antibiotic resistance, while still providing strong protection against post-surgical infections,” said Lee.

    Animal Trials Show Superior Bone Regeneration with 3D-Printed Scaffolds

    In animal trials, the 3D-printed scaffolds outperformed conventional bone cement in supporting new bone formation. Micro-CT scans taken 12 weeks after surgery revealed that the printed material led to stronger, more natural bone development, without any tissue damage or abnormal inflammation. However, researchers observed that although bone healing improved significantly compared to bone cement, the defects had not fully filled by the end of the study period.

    “The scaffold was designed to biologically integrate with surrounding bone tissue and to gradually break down as new bone replaces it over time,” said Lee. “Our findings showed that the printed scaffolds led to better results in key structural indicators like bone surface area, cortical thickness, and polar moment of inertia, all pointing to more effective bone regeneration and integration.”

    Key Bone Strength Metrics and the Future of Personalized Orthopedic Grafting

    Cortical thickness refers to the dense outer layer of bone and is a key marker of bone strength and density. The polar moment of inertia measures a bone’s resistance to twisting forces, reflecting its structural stability.

    This proof-of-concept bone grafting technique could revolutionize personalized orthopedics. Surgeons might bring this portable device into the operating room to print customized bone implants directly onto irregular defects. The built-in antibiotic delivery system could help reduce post-surgical infections, a leading cause of implant failure. This method would be faster and more cost-effective, eliminating the need for expensive, time-consuming implant manufacturing. Additionally, the device can adapt to use different biodegradable materials and incorporate various drugs to address diverse bone injuries and patient needs. However, researchers need to conduct further work.

    “Clinical use will depend on establishing standardized manufacturing, validated sterilization methods, and preclinical testing in large animal models to meet regulatory standards,” said Lee. “If researchers overcome these challenges, we envision this technique becoming a practical, immediate solution for bone repair directly in the operating room.”

    Read the original article on: New Atlas

    Read more: We Now Understand How Sleep Helps Build Muscle

  • Blood-Derived Living Material Offers New Hope for Bone Repair, Study Finds

    Blood-Derived Living Material Offers New Hope for Bone Repair, Study Finds

    Samples of the implant material created in the lab. (University of Nottingham)

    When skin is injured, blood clots naturally initiate the healing process. Building on this mechanism, scientists have created a blood-based implant that accelerates and enhances tissue repair, particularly for broken bones.

    The research team describes this innovation as a “biocooperative regenerative” material. By incorporating synthetic peptides, the implant strengthens the blood clot’s natural barrier to improve both its structure and function. In tests on rats, the gel-like material, which can be 3D-printed, successfully repaired bone damage. If adapted for humans, this breakthrough could revolutionize healing methods.

    “The ability to safely and easily transform a patient’s blood into regenerative implants is incredibly promising,” says biomedical engineer Cosimo Ligorio from the University of Nottingham. Blood is not only abundant but also easily sourced.

    The study focused on the solid regenerative hematoma (RH), a critical component in clotting. Researchers engineered peptide amphiphiles (PAs) to amplify the RH’s natural functions. These molecules enhanced clotting, linking with the RH’s scaffolding to form stronger structures.

    Enhanced Bone Repair: Modified Blood and Synthetic Peptides Activate Key Regenerative Cells

    The researchers wanted to build on the natural healing processes encouraged by blood clots. (Padilla-Lopategui et al., Advanced Materials, 2024)

    Using the modified blood combined with PAs, the team repaired small bone defects in rat skulls. Key repair cells, including mesenchymal stromal cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, were activated in the implant, driving effective regeneration.

    The gel-like material could also be mechanically adjusted and 3D-printed for specific applications, showcasing its versatility.

    Regenerative medicine aims to amplify the body’s natural repair mechanisms. While effective, these processes can become overwhelmed or weakened over time, especially with age. This innovative approach could counteract those limitations, improving health and recovery outcomes.

    “This ‘biocooperative’ strategy leverages natural healing mechanisms as fabrication steps to engineer materials that aid regeneration,” explains biomedical engineer Alvaro Mata from the University of Nottingham. Although still in early stages, this research highlights the potential for transformative medical applications.

    Read Original Article: Science Alert

    Read More: Scitke