3D-Printed Bone Scaffold Heals Hard-to-Treat Breaks

Mar-30-19 A 3D-printed scaffolding that mimics the characteristics of osteochondral tissue could help repair bone injuries and save athletes’ careers.

The osteochondral tissue is found in the long bones of the arms and legs, where it transitions from compressible cartilage to hard bone. This dual-density material can cause disabling arthritis if damaged, and has been difficult to reproduce in the lab—until now.

To help the healing of osteochondral tissue, researchers from the University of Maryland and Rice University used a 3D printer to print a scaffold consisting of a custom, soft polymer that mimics the cartilage consistency and transitions to bone-like ceramic. Pores embedded in the ceramic will encourage the patient’s cells and blood vessels to migrate into the structure and incorporate it into the body’s bone and cartilage.

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