Traditional bone defect treatments such as titanium implants and autologous bone grafts have limitations in treating large bone defects, which leave the surrounding bone tissue vulnerable to damage. To address these issues, the BioStruct project is working on a bioresorbable implant for a more bone-friendly approach to healing.
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△The 3D printed zinc-magnesium alloy developed by RWTH Aachen University in Germany, the mandible model made of PLA is combined with the defect-matching implant made of ZnMg
On March 20, 2023, Antarctic Bear learned that as part of the BioStruct project, RWTH Aachen University in Germany was studying a new zinc-magnesium alloy combination for lattice structure. They believe that laser beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) is the only process capable of producing such structures.
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△ Zinc-magnesium alloy lattice structure manufactured using PBF-LB technology, with a column diameter of 200 μm
Laser beam powder bed fusion, new hope for patient-specific implants?
Laser beam powder bed fusion opens up new design options for implants that can meet specific patient needs such as mechanical stress and corrosion behavior at the application site. Using a lattice structure design approach, the geometry and arrangement of lattice cells are created parametrically according to specified requirements. The resulting lattice structure is tailored to the location of the bone defect and is ready for production using the PBF-LB technique.
In the study, the scientists achieved grain refinement and targeted microstructural adjustment by adding a small amount of magnesium to zinc. They fabricated the first lattice structure using a zinc-magnesium alloy, which was demonstrated to be effective and reproducible as a jawbone implant. The lattice structure used in the demonstrator has a pillar diameter of 200 μm.
The research results of the BioStruct project will be applied to the production of implants, designed based on the knowledge gained from the production and biocompatibility of zinc-magnesium alloy implants. In addition, the design process will also be optimized and automated.
It can be summarized that the RWTH Aachen University team in Germany is creating a material- and post-processing-specific database, as well as an application-specific database, to automatically integrate patient and production-related needs into the design process. The overarching goal of the project is to produce custom-made, bioabsorbable implants that meet specific patient requirements and allow the use of gentler treatments.
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△ Delft researchers use porous iron to 3D print biodegradable bone implants
Advances in bone implants through 3D printing
Using extrusion-based 3D printing, engineers at Delft University of Technology have created porous iron biodegradable implants with great potential to replace bone. These temporary implants can be absorbed by the body, help reduce the risk of long-term inflammation, and allow the design and fabrication of porous structures that treat critical bone defects.
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△Scientists have worked out how to use 3D printers and gel-like materials containing living cells to print bone-like structures
At the same time, researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia have created a new technology that can 3D print bone-like structures composed of living cells, with potential applications in bone tissue engineering, disease modeling and drug screening. The technology uses ceramic-based inks that can be extruded directly into affected areas to facilitate in situ reconstruction of cartilage and bone defects. The discovery, made in collaboration with Associate Professor Kristopher Kilian and Dr Iman Roohani from UNSW's School of Chemistry, enables the printing of cell-filled 'skeletons' at room temperature.
