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

据我们所知，目前基于挤压的支架添加剂制造(3D绘图)的研究大多集中在通过调节支架的多孔结构或基质的组成来提高其刺激成骨和血管生成的能力。然而，在临床实践中，经常有患者对种植体的特殊要求，特别是在骨修复方面。骨软骨缺损的再生需要软骨和骨组织的同时修复，但由于软骨和骨组织具有不同的谱系特异性生物学特性和力学特性，使用单一类型的支架无法完成这一任务。另一个挑战仍然是植入物相关感染的问题，不同情况下可能会有所不同。针对这些主题，该项目旨在开发一种模块化系统，用于针对患者特定的3D打印植入物的定制设计和制造。为了实现这一目标，我们的战略是将新型治疗性生物陶瓷和复合材料与3D标绘技术相结合。通过将具有生物活性的金属离子Li、Cr3和Ce3引入到磷酸钙或硅酸钙基骨修复生物材料中，赋予生物陶瓷特殊的生物学功能，如软骨保存和抗菌活性，新型医用生物陶瓷/复合材料将被开发为一个工具箱。将3D绘图应用于“工具箱”将允许这些生物功能化生物陶瓷在结构上量身定制的组合，从而开发针对个别患者的特定设计。申请者相信，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适合3D绘图的模块化系统，这将首次实现字面意义上的患者专用植入物的制造。这项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标绘制造技术，治疗性金属离子的力学性能和释放行为的表征，以及对其生物学特性的全面体外和体内评价。该项目涉及与卫生领域的生物医学材料有关的具有挑战性的问题，只有利用两个申请者的个人专长，通过共同努力和协调行动，才能成功实施。它非常适合德累斯顿理工大学和中国科学院上海陶瓷研究所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，并为德国和中国的高性价比医疗体系做出贡献。

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.