A bioactive, 3D-printed scaffold helped regenerate and remodel bone in a rabbit model, according to a study in the Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.
Here are four things to know:
1. The bioactive ceramic scaffolds are entirely comprised of beta tri‐calcium phosphate.
2. New York City-based NYU School of Medicine and NYU College of Dentistry researchers implanted the scaffolds in the rabbits' segmental long bone defects or left the defects empty and allowed them to heal. They assessed bone regrowth at eight-, 12- and 24-week increments.
3. The implants guided bone regrowth and were resorbed into the rabbits' bodies with no demonstrated adverse immune responses.
4. Researchers coated the scaffolds in dipyridamole to speed up bone formation and attract bone stem cells to the implant site.
"Dipyridamole has proven to be key to the implant's success," said study co-investigator Bruce N. Cronstein, MD. "And because the implant is gradually resorbed, the drug is released a little at a time and locally into the bone, not into the whole body, thereby minimizing risks of abnormal bone growth, bleeding or other side effects."