3D Printing Contributes to Tissue Regeneration

Did you know 3D printing can now be used to promote bone regeneration and repair tissue damage? 3D printing offers many valuable uses. It can be used to create football boots, mold jewelry, and even construct a grandfather clock. In fact, one organization was using it to build an airplane wing.

Doctors also had high hopes for 3D printing. It was recently discovered that 3D technology was used to create a part of a sternum, which was implanted successfully into a person who was diagnosed with cancer.

For patients going through cancer treatment or experienced serious fracture, they are at a higher risk of losing bone tissue. To replace the lost tissue, synthetic bone substitutes are commonly used. However, experts say making these materials can be a challenge.

With 3D printing, it allows doctors to bridge the gap that allows natural tissue regeneration. It can be modified to suit the exact size, shape, and other requirements of each patient. And since it’s made of porous material, there is room for cell growth and blood flow in the 3D printed material.

Manolis Papastavrou, a PhD candidate and is a member of the Design for Health and Wellbeing Research Group at Nottingham Trent University, explained the working with a porous is generally not a good idea since the material will gradually weaken over time. But with the current 3D technology, they were able to overcome this obstacle.

Overseeing the project is Prof. Philip Breedon, also of Nottingham Trent University. He calls it a “real step forward” in achieving faster recovery after a major injury.