Medical-related 3D printing has come a long way especially in producing organs. What about 3D printing bones? Back in 2016, we reported on the work of some researchers at Northwestern University, Illinois, that had 3D printed a scaffolding material that combined hydroxyapatite, a mineral found in bone, with polycaprolactone, a biocompatible polymer. The researchers are even claiming that it could allow the bones to be 3D printed directly into the human body. “In contrast to previous materials, our technique offers a way to print constructs in situ which mimic the structure and chemistry of the bone,” said study co-author Iman Roohani, a bioengineer at UNSW’s School of Chemistry. Currently, the most common method for repairing bones is autologous bone grafting. UNSW researchers came up with ink that could be 3D printed into an aqueous environment that mimics the human body. The team is now attempting to print large structures and testing on animals to see how effective their 3D printed bone parts are.

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