New generation of 3D scaffolds for patient-specific therapies in orthopedic applications

据我们所知，目前大多数基于挤出的支架增材制造（3D绘图）的研究都集中在通过调节其多孔结构或基质组成来提高其刺激骨生成和血管生成的能力。然而，在临床实践中，通常对植入物有额外的患者特定要求，特别是用于骨修复。骨软骨缺损的再生需要同时修复软骨和骨组织，然而，这不能通过利用单一类型的支架来实现，因为软骨和骨组织具有不同的谱系特异性生物学特性以及机械特性。另一个挑战仍然是与植入物相关的感染问题，这在个别情况下可能有所不同。针对这些主题，该项目旨在开发一个模块化系统，用于定制设计和制造患者特定的3D绘制植入物。为了实现这一目标，我们的策略是将新型治疗性生物陶瓷和复合材料与3D绘图技术相结合，联合收割机。新型治疗性生物陶瓷/复合材料将通过将生物活性金属离子（例如Li+、Cr 3+和Ce 3+）引入到基于磷酸钙或硅酸盐的骨修复生物材料中而被开发为“工具箱”，这赋予生物陶瓷特定的生物功能，例如软骨保护和抗菌活性。将3D绘图应用于“工具箱”将允许这些生物功能化生物陶瓷的结构定制组合，从而导致针对个体患者的特定设计的开发。申请人相信，到项目结束时，将建立一个由治疗性生物陶瓷和复合材料组成的模块化系统，适用于3D绘图，这将首次实现字面意义上的患者特异性植入物的制造。该研究将涵盖生物材料开发的整个链条，包括治疗性生物陶瓷的设计和3D绘图制造技术，机械性能和治疗性金属离子释放行为的表征，以及生物学性能的全面体外和体内评价。该项目涉及与卫生领域生物医学材料有关的挑战性问题，只有利用两个申请人的个人专门知识并通过协调一致的努力和协调行动才能成功实施。它非常适合德累斯顿工业大学和中国科学院上海陶瓷研究所之间在生物医学材料研究和开发方面的合作框架。我们坚信，该项目必将为新型合成生物材料的开发做出重要贡献，并为德国和中国的经济高效的医疗体系做出贡献。

To our knowledge, the majority of the current research on extrusion-based additive manufacturing (3D plotting) of scaffolds have been focused on improving their abilities of stimulating osteogenesis and angiogenesis, by modulating either their porous structure or the composition of the substrate. However, in clinical practice, there are frequently extra patient-specific demands on the implants, especially for bone repair. Osteochondral defect regeneration requires the simultaneous restoration of both cartilage and bone tissue, which however cannot be fulfilled by utilizing a single type of scaffold since cartilage and bone tissues have different lineage-specific biological, but also mechanical properties. Another challenge is still the problem of implant-related infections, which can differ in individual situations. Addressing these topics, the project aims at developing a modular system for the tailored design and fabrication of patient-specific 3D-plotted implants. To fulfill this goal, our strategy is to combine novel therapeutic bioceramics and composite materials and 3D plotting technique. Novel therapeutic bioceramics/composites will be developed as a 'tool box' by incorporating biologically active metal ions, e.g. Li+, Cr3+ and Ce3+, into bone-repairing calcium phosphate- or silicate-based biomaterials, which endows the bioceramics with specific biological functions, such as cartilage preservation and antibacterial activity. The application of 3D plotting to the 'tool box' will allow the structurally tailored combination of these biofunctionalized bioceramics, leading to the development of specific design with respect to the individual patient. It is the belief of the applicants that, by the end of the project, a modular system consisting of therapeutic bioceramics and composites, suitable for 3D plotting will be established which will for the first time realize the fabrication of patient-specific implants in the literal sense. The research will cover the whole chain of biomaterials development, including design of therapeutic bioceramics and 3D plotting fabrication technology, characterization of mechanical performance and releasing behaviors of therapeutic metal ions, as well as thorough in vitro and in vivo evaluation of the biological properties. The project addresses challenging issues related to biomedical materials in the field of health, and can only be successfully carried out by utilizing the individual expertise of the two applicants and through concerted efforts and coordinated actions. It fits excellently into the framework of collaboration in the research and development of biomedical materials between Technische Universität Dresden and Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. We strongly believe that the project will surely make important contribution to the development of novel synthetic biomaterials and contribute to cost-effective healthcare systems both in Germany and China.