Long Bone Defect Filling with Bioactive Degradable 3D-Implant: Experimental Study

Abstract

Previously, 3D-printed bone grafts made of titanium alloy with bioactive coating has shown great potential for the restoration of bone defects. Implanted into a medullary canal titanium graft with cellular structure demonstrated stimulation of the reparative osteogenesis and successful osseointegration of the graft into a single bone-implant block. The purpose of this study was to investigate osseointegration of a 3D-printed degradable polymeric implant with cellular structure as preclinical testing of a new technique for bone defect restoration. During an experimental study in sheep, a 20 mm-long segmental tibial defect was filled with an original cylindrical implant with cellular structure made of polycaprolactone coated with hydroxyapatite. X-ray radiographs demonstrated reparative bone regeneration from the periosteum lying on the periphery of cylindrical implant to its center in a week after the surgery. Cellular structure of the implant was fully filled with newly-formed bone tissue on the 4th week after the surgery. The bone tissue regeneration from the proximal and distal bone fragments was evident on 3rd week. This provides insight into the use of bioactive degradable implants for the restoration of segmental bone defects. Degradable implant with bioactive coating implanted into a long bone segmental defect provides stimulation of reparative osteogenesis and osseointegration into the single implant-bone block.

Physicochemical Characterization of Chitosan/Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid Glass-like Materials

“…The non-toxicity of the constituent biopolymers further enhances their suitability for these applications [45][46][47]. Due to its protein-like effects, this polymer composite holds significant potential, and may even outperform conventional polymers, thereby making it suitable for particular applications in regenerative medicine, such as the restoration of segmental bone defects [48].…”

Cushioning Performance of the Biomimetic Cobweb Cushioning Silicone Pad

“…To obtain the cobweb cushion, we must make the shell of the cushion, develop th 3D model of the shell in 3D software, and print it using 3D printing technology [35,36 The shell is now divided into three parts for convenience in printing and stripping. It then assembled into a cast of HL-1029, as shown in Figure 17.…”