Synthetic bone material stimulates new bone growth read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/1069-synthetic-bone-material-stimulates-new-bone-growth

A synthetic bone material has been shown to stimulate new bone growth when implanted in the spines of rats and a monkey's skull. Human trials using the bio-material, called Hyper-Elastic Bone (HB), could begin in the next five years.

Adam Jakus, a researcher at Northwestern University, said, this material had great mechanical properties and it was very easy and rapid to 3D print. The material is made mostly of a ceramic, which contains mineral found in teeth, bones, and polymer, which are used in the clinic.

Unlike bone grafts, which are costlier, more brittle and risk being rejected in the patient's body. The bio-material could be printed into many shapes, cut and folded, and sutured to fit on demand.

The study said, when implanted into experimental animals HB quickly integrated with the surrounding tissue, regenerating bone to promote spinal fusion in rats.

A larger piece was printed to fill a hole in a rhesus macaque's skull. It healed after four weeks, with no signs of infection or other side-effects, and able to see evidence of new bone growth.

Researchers said, this work represents the next breakthrough in orthopedic, cranial facial and pediatric surgery when it comes to repairing and regenerating bone in tissue defects.

The study hopes the material will one day offer personalized implants for a range of bone injuries, including spine, dental, reconstructive, and bone cancer surgeries.