Wearing a prosthesis that is truly incorporated into the body, one that not only disintegrates over time, but also naturally promotes the regeneration of the patient\u2019s real bone, is now a reality thanks to the joint work of\u00a0two entities based in the Barcelona Science Park: Avinent Implant System\u00a0and IBEC.<\/p>\n
The Avinent\u00a0company has proven experience in designing and creating\u00a0customized solutions for the medical dental sector\u00a0using digital technology, and\u00a0IBEC has a long history in the manufacture of materials for repairing and regenerating bone tissue.\u00a0By joining together their know-how, the two organizations have first managed to digitally reconstruct the defect or bone fracture and then to select the most suitable biomaterial to print the prosthesis with the\u00a0IBEC\u2019s 3D bioprinter, which is the only one offering the level of precision and characteristics requred for regenerative medicine purposes in southern Europe.<\/p>\n
These biomaterials comprise polymers and nanoparticles that are provided with the necessary porosity through 3D printing for the patient\u2019s cells to circulate and colonize the area by promoting the regeneration of damaged tissue. This means that the prostheses are made of a material that not only gradually disappears, but also promotes the regeneration of the patient\u2019s bone tissue. Bioactive nanoparticles act as an attraction point, calling on cells to migrate to the affected area and repopulate it. The prosthesis becomes the patient\u2019s own bone after three years, with its blood vessels and sensitivity.<\/p>\n
As Avinent R&D Manager\u00a0Anna Cortina\u00a0points out: \u201cThe fact that the patient can wear a piece that degrades and does not have to think about a second operation or future complications is a major leap forward. Sometimes, titanium prostheses, for example, cause the surrounding bone not to regenerate as optimally. This will not happen with 3D printed parts made from bioactive nanoparticles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Elisabeth Engel, director of IBEC\u2019s Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies group, explains: \u201cThis solution represents a complete paradigm shift as regards the use of metallic prostheses, which do not promote tissue regeneration, but rather permanently replace the damaged area.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avinent and IBEC have so far demonstrated the success of bioprinted pieces on a chicken embryo membrane, a fertilized egg membrane; the next step is to see how they respond in mice. The first decisive step towards the creation of personalized bioactive products will be applied in the cranio-maxillofacial field, but given the scalability of 3D printed biomaterial production, the partnership between both organizations aims to expand its field of application, developing and manufacturing solutions for other parts of the human body.<\/p>\n
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Advances in 3D bioprinted prostheses that are truly incorporated into the body \u2013with their own blood vessels and sensitivity\u2013 are becoming increasingly more remarkable.\u00a0This has been demonstrated by Avinent Implant System<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies<\/a>\u00a0group led by\u00a0Elisabeth Engell at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC<\/a>), that\u00a0are jointly developing an ambitious project to create 3D printed pieces from biomaterials.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54729,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n