According to Swansea University, researchers have developed a revolutionary 3D printed bone graft substitute, inspired by coral, which dissolves naturally in the body after repair. This research, led by Dr. Zhidao Xia from Swansea University Medical School, in collaboration with colleagues from the Faculty of Science and Engineering and several external partners, has been patented and published in the journal Bioactive Materials.
Bone defects caused by conditions like fractures, tumors, and non-healing injuries are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Traditionally, doctors use either a patient’s own bone (autograft) or donor bone (allograft) to fill these gaps. However, these methods come with challenges, including a limited supply, infection risk, and ethical concerns.
By using 3D printing technology, the team has developed a biomimetic material that mimics the porous structure and chemical composition of coral-converted bone graft substitute – blending close to perfectly with human bone and offering several benefits including new bone growth within just 2–4 weeks; complete integration, with the material naturally degrading within 6–12 months after enhanced regeneration – leaving behind only healthy bone; and cost-effectiveness when produced in large quantities.
In preclinical in vivo studies, the material showed remarkable results – fully repairing bone defects within 3–6 months and even triggering the formation of a new layer of strong, healthy cortical bone in 4 weeks.
Most synthetic bone graft substitutes currently on the market can’t match the performance of natural bone – either taking too long to dissolve, not integrating well, or causing side effects like inflammation. This new material overcomes these problems by closely mimicking natural bone in both structure and biological behavior.
“Our invention bridges the gap between synthetic substitutes and donor bone. We’ve shown that it’s possible to create a material that is safe, effective, and scalable to meet global demand. This could end the reliance on donor bone and tackle the ethical and supply issues in bone grafting,” said Dr. Xia.
Innovations like this not only promise to improve patient quality of life but also reduce healthcare costs and provide new opportunities for the biomedical industry.
The Swansea University team is now looking to partner with companies and healthcare organizations to bring this life-changing technology to patients around the world.
The study was carried out by Swansea University, UK; Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China; Xiangyang Central Hospital, China; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA; Oxford Instruments NanoAnalysis, UK; McGill University, Canada; The Open University, UK; the University of Rochester, USA; the University of Oxford, UK; and the University of Sheffield, UK.
