Post by Georgetown University

Bone grafts and replacements are common medical procedures performed to treat patients with chronic conditions or serious injuries. Around the world, millions of bone graft procedures occur every year, from dental implants to hip replacements and spinal fusions. However, replacing human bones with artificial materials can introduce a host of complications: infections, nerve damage, bleeding and outright rejection by the body. At Georgetown, Styliani Alimperti, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology in the School of Medicine, is developing 3D-printed bone grafts based on natural materials that could make procedures safer and more effective. “The process of making the body regenerate its own tissue is very challenging because of aging, injury and other factors,” Alimperti said. “Engineering tissue parts or whole organs that are closer to the native ones with the proper structures and cells will help the regeneration and restoration of the tissue.” https://bit.ly/4mi09xw