SIBFU biologists have learned how to print bones

SFU Press Service

A team of scientists from Siberian Federal University is working on the creation of bone structures from polyhydroxybutyrate, a fully biodegradable material synthesized by microorganisms, using 3D prototyping and computed tomography. The resulting products will be able to be used for high-tech methods of treatment.

As explained by the head of the Department of Medical Biology of SibFU, Professor, Doctor of Biological Sciences Ekaterina Shishatskaya, the production of synthetic bones from biocompatible materials, taking into account the individual anatomical and morphofunctional characteristics of patients, is an urgent direction today, and in the near future will become the "gold standard" of orthopedics and will avoid the use of foreign materials for the treatment of pathology.

"Additive prototyping makes it possible to obtain products of almost any shape and size. Given that modern equipment allows you to take pictures with an accuracy of 0.625 mm, and software systems – to isolate types of fabrics, individual objects and save the data obtained in the form of models, the method is ideal for the manufacture of piece, individual designs. Only the technology of processing biopolymer material for printing is needed," Ekaterina Igorevna said.

According to scientists, in addition to using the patient's computed tomography data, a model for printing can be obtained by focusing on the average data on the size of a particular bone in a particular age and height group.

"When printing, layer-by-layer deposition of the material is used. This allows the polymer to be applied without changing the chemical structure and using an adhesive composition. The rod from the bobbin passes through the Teflon tube into the nozzle of the mini-extruder and prints a layer of a given thickness, moving along the X-axis and the Y-axis. At the same time, the platform, giving a new layer for printing, shifts along the Z axis. For printing, a rod with a diameter of 1.75 mm is required, obtained by different technologies. Currently, we are trying different approaches based on the physico-mechanical properties of the polymer material "Bioplastotan"," said Konstantin Kistersky, a member of the research team, whose course project won a prize at the Lomonosov International Youth Innovation Forum in Moscow.

Recall, "Bioplastotan" is a biodegradable polymer created by Krasnoyarsk biologists. In 2010, Ekaterina Shishatskaya was awarded the prize of the President of the Russian Federation for research on the development of technologies for obtaining "Bioplastotan" and the creation of scientific foundations for their application in medical practice.

At the next stage of the work, the scientists intend to conduct a comprehensive assessment of experimental implants for compliance with Russian and international standards for implantable medical devices intended for long-term and permanent use and having a high individual risk.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  24.06.2016