Researchers at the University of Arizona in Tucson received a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to use 3D printing to regrow broken bones, according to KGUN 9.
The researchers are developing 3D-printed scaffolds to replace broken bone segments. According to orthopedic surgery professor John A. Szivek, PhD, the scaffolds are in conjunction with stem cells for bone regeneration.
UA scientists can now send scaffold images to hospitals or Veterans Affairs locations across the country. The scaffolds can be printed within hours, and researchers aim to use the scaffold to restore bone to its pre-injury state.