Tissue Engineering in Orthopedic Applications

A 3D printable scaffold to support fast bone growth. Bone-like composite developed at EPFL, in collaboration with researchers from ETH Zurich, Empa and the University of Fribourg, uses naturally occurring enzymes to accelerate mineralization through an energy-efficient, room-temperature process. The strong, lightweight material shows promise for bone repair applications. Switzerland. 11 Mar 2026 Excerpt: Scientists have developed synthetic materials using one of bone’s main components: a mineral known as hydroxyapatite (HA). The high- temperature processes required to produce HA-based materials use significant energy and restrict the use of biologically active components, such as enzymes, to promote bone growth. Note: Researchers in the Soft Materials Laboratory (SMaL) in EPFL’s School of Engineering, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, Empa and the University of Fribourg, have now developed a way to 3D-print HA-based scaffolds using a room-temperature process that harnesses enzymes for fast mineralization. The resulting bone-like porous scaffolds can become load bearing within just 7 days. The research has been published in Advanced Functional Materials. “Our idea was to generate a 3D printable and injectable ‘ink’ that can be mineralized into scaffolds with mechanical properties similar to those of highly porous trabecular bone, which is found in human vertebrae and the ends of long bones like the femur,” said laboratory head Esther Amstad. “We hope our technology’s combination of mechanical performance, bioactivity, and energy-efficient processing will open new avenues for bone tissue engineering.” Key: EPFL team’s ‘ink’ is produced by embedding the enzyme alkaline phosphatase into gelatin microparticles incubating them in a solution with calcium and phosphate ions. The enzyme triggers formation of HA crystals that stiffen and strengthen the printed scaffolds. After four days of mineralization, the composite can bear the average weight of an adult human on an area as small as 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm. Scientists also add enzyme-free gelatin microfragments, which melt when the scaffold is incubated, leaving pores behind. After implantation at the site of a bone fracture, the pores can be replaced by healthy cells to promote growth of new bone. Importantly, tuning the density of the microfragments allows the team to control the scaffold’s porosity. By introducing pores that make up around 50% of the scaffold volume, researchers create room for cells to infiltrate and remodel the scaffolds, opening up new possibilities for natural bone regeneration. “Looking ahead, our work might lay the foundation for injectable scaffolds that aid bone regeneration and potentially enable patients to load their broken bones much earlier than can be achieved with currently available technologies,” she says Further information and link to published research enclosed. https://lnkd.in/efXY_cpr

After nearly a decade working on #osteochondral regeneration, one lesson stands out: repairing the cartilage-bone interface is not a materials challenge alone, it is a problem of biological integration, mechanical matching, and #clinical_translation. I’m pleased to share our published book chapter: “Tissue Engineering Strategies for Osteochondral Repair” in the living reference work Osteochondral Tissue Engineering In this chapter, we provide a practical and translational perspective on the field, covering: • Fundamentals and current approaches for osteochondral defect repair • Cell-free and scaffold-free regenerative strategies • Innovations in advanced, hybrid, and biofunctional biomaterials • Development of adaptive and sustainable biomaterial platforms for clinical use • Emerging technologies such as biofabrication and personalised treatment strategies This work reflects not only research progress but also the growing shift in the field, from isolated material solutions toward clinically realistic, scalable, and patient-specific regenerative strategies. I would like to acknowledge my collaborator Negar Bakhtiary for her contribution, and sincerely thank Miguel Oliveira, Rui L. Reis, and Sandra Pina for their invitation and for leading this important living reference work for the community. You can explore the chapter here: https://lnkd.in/emAXZfnN

In this newsletter, we highlight a major innovation in orthopedic tissue engineering: the use of 3D bioprinting to print regionally structured osteochondral units for joint regeneration. These advanced structures mimic the natural hierarchical structure of joints by combining chondrocytes, calcified cartilage, and osteoblasts in distinct, spatially ordered regions. Using multi-material bioprinting, researchers can reconstruct complex cartilage-bone interfaces and promote normal cell differentiation and mechanical integrity. Vascularized bone regions further enhance tissue integration and healing. Preclinical studies have shown promising results in restoring joint function, reducing inflammation, and improving long-term outcomes in cartilage-bone defect repair. Personalized transplants using patient-derived stem cells also reduce the risk of immune rejection, making this technology a powerful tool for customized regenerative therapies. #3DBioprinting #OsteochondralRepair #JointRegeneration #ZonalArchitecture #TissueEngineering #CartilageRepair #BoneRegeneration #RegenerativeMedicine #Biomaterials #Orthopedics #PrecisionMedicine #Biofabrication #StemCellTherapy #TranslationalResearch #AdvancedBioprinting

Pleased to share that our most recent collaborative work with colleagues from the University of Southampton, the The University of Manchester, and Sheffield Hallam University titled "Ceramic-based piezoelectric material reinforced 3D printed polycaprolactone bone tissue engineering scaffolds" was published by Materials & Design. ➡️ Recent studies confirm the piezoelectricity of human bone, sparking interest in biocompatible and biodegradable piezoelectric scaffold development. These scaffolds mimic native bone by matching its mechanical properties and piezoelectric behaviour i.e., generating local electrical stimulation under mechanical stress, or generating mechanical response under external electrical stimulation, thereby modulating cellular activity, accelerating cell proliferation and differentiation, ultimately speeding up the regeneration process. Although polymer-based piezoelectric materials offer high reproducibility for 3D scaffolds, their piezoelectric performance falls short of ceramic alternatives. While lead zirconate titanate (PZT) exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties, the haz- ardous nature of lead limits biomedical applications. Consequently, this research proposes novel lead-free Bi1/ 2Na1/2TiO3-based (BNT) piezoelectric materials, namely, direct piezoelectric ceramics (DPC) (>50 % d33 enhancement compared to undoped BNT) and converse piezoelectric ceramics (CPC) (>200 % Smax enhancement compared to undoped BNT), with properties optimized for bone tissue engineering (BTE). 3D BTE scaffolds are designed and fabricated considering biocompatible and biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) incorporating DPC and CPC as functional fillers. Comparative evaluations against hydroxyapatite (HA), a well-accepted bio- ceramic for clinical applications, are conducted for surface, mechanical, and biological properties. Results proved the incorporation of both DPC and CPC promotes the mechanical properties (88.6 % enhancement compared to neat PCL) and cell proliferation rate (46.3 % improvement compared to HA). Notably, hybrid scaffolds combining both PCL/DPC and PCL/CPC in a cascade manner also outperformed PCL/HA (by 7.4 %) in osteogenic differentiation, indicating promising potential for future studies. This work is part of a long term collaboration with Dr Weiguang Wang on bone tissue engineering. Thanks to the other co-authors Yanhao Hou, Ge Wang, Hareem Zubairi, Mustafa Tuğrul Uçan, David Hall, and Antonio Ferreira 👏 #bonetissueengineering; #piezoelectricscaffolds; #ceramics, #polymers #scaffolds; #biomaterials; #3Dprinting; #additivemanufacturing; #collaboration; #research; #innovation

Physical cues are powerful regulators of cell fate. While mechanical loading and magnetic fields have each shown promise independently, their combined magnetomechanical effect on osteochondral regeneration has remained largely unexplored—partly due to the lack of standardized and comparable in vitro platforms. In our latest work published in Biomaterials, we developed a versatile, high-throughput magnetomechanical stimulation system capable of delivering precisely controlled oscillating magnetic fields and cyclic mechanical deformation to 3D constructs in vitro. By pairing this platform with magnetoactive 3D-printed scaffolds containing different magnetic contents, we show that magnetomechanical stimulation alone—without biochemical differentiation cues—can direct cell commitment. Low magnetic content scaffolds favor osteogenic differentiation, with strong upregulation of ALP and osteocalcin, whereas higher magnetic content scaffolds promote chondrogenic commitment, with increased collagen II and aggrecan expression https://lnkd.in/e8RKiDdw Thanks Maria Kalogeropoulou for leading the work #collaboration Pierpaolo Fucile Sophia Dalfino Gianluca Tartaglia Izabela-Cristina Stancu #Biomaterials #TissueEngineering #Magnetomechanics #OsteochondralRegeneration #3Dprinting #Mechanobiology #RegenerativeMedicine

Researchers developed a hybrid bioprinting platform—the Hybprinter—that combines molten material extrusion for rigid polymers like PCL with DLP bioprinting for soft, cell-laden hydrogels. This approach enables continuous fabrication of multi-material constructs that are both mechanically strong and biologically active. For example, rigid bone-like scaffolds infused with soft, cell-supportive hydrogels. Compared to hydrogel-only prints, the hybrid structures achieved a 1000× increase in mechanical strength and could even be sutured, bridging the gap between lab-printed tissues and surgical handling. The researchers used GelMA for their DLP-printed hydrogel components, but other photocrosslinkable materials such as CollPlant’s methacrylated recombinant type I human collagen could be explored for similar applications. Read the full publication: https://lnkd.in/ggPsJG2v #3dbioprinting #tissueengineering #cellculture

Breaking boundaries in fracture care: Korea’s 'bone-healing gun' Metal implants and titanium grafts have been the standard for severe fractures, expensive, slow, and hard to customize. Now, Sungkyunkwan University 성균관대학교(SKKU) researchers are changing the game with a handheld 3D-printing-like device. How it works ➦ Extrudes a biodegradable polymer scaffold at 60 °C, safe for surrounding tissue. ➦ Custom-fit to broken bones, supporting natural healing. ➦ Uses polycaprolactone + hydroxyapatite for strength and gradual biodegradation. Early results ➦ Faster recovery in animal trials compared to standard bone cement. ➦ Next steps: faster material breakdown, antibiotic integration, and training surgeons for precision use. 💡 Why it matters Personalized fracture treatment could become faster, cheaper, and more accessible, recarving orthopedic care. Read more in Comments. 📌📢 Follow my BOARDS Newsletters series by BOARDS Interconnected Insights #Innovation #HealthcareTech #3DPrinting #BiomedicalEngineering #MedicalDevices #Orthopedics #PersonalizedMedicine #FractureTreatment #FutureOfHealthcare #Healthcare #Technology