Biomaterials in Engineering Applications

A Band-Aid for the heart? A new way to 3D print material elastic enough to withstand a heart’s persistent beating, tough enough to endure the crushing load placed on joints, and easily shapable to fit a patient’s unique defects. University of Colorado Boulder and University of Pennsylvania. Brief video. August 01, 2024 Excerpt: The breakthrough, described in Aug. 2 edition of the journal Science, helps pave the way toward a new generation of biomaterials, from internal bandages that deliver drugs directly to the heart to cartilage patches and needle-free sutures. “Cardiac and cartilage tissues are similar in that they have very limited capacity to repair themselves. When they’re damaged, there is no turning back,” said senior author Jason Burdick, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at CU Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute. “By developing new, more resilient materials to enhance the repair process, we can have a big impact on patients.” Historically, biomedical devices have been created via molding or casting, techniques which work well for mass production of identical implants but not practical when it comes to personalizing implants for specific patients. In recent years, 3D printing has opened a world of new possibilities for medical applications by allowing researchers to make materials in many shapes and structures. Unlike typical printers, 3D printers deposit layer after layer of plastics, metals or living cells to create multidimensional objects. One specific material, hydrogel (utilized in contact lenses), a favorite prospect for fabricating artificial tissues, organs and implants. Until now 3D-printed hydrogels tend to break when stretched, crack under pressure or are too stiff to mold around tissues. To achieve strength and elasticity within 3D printed hydrogels, Burdick and colleagues observed worms, which repeatedly tangle and untangle themselves around one another in three-dimensional “worm blobs” that have solid and liquid-like properties. Previous research has shown incorporating similarly intertwined chains of molecules, “entanglements,” can make them tougher. Note: The new printing method, CLEAR (Continuous-curing after Light Exposure Aided by Redox initiation), follows a series of steps to entangle long molecules inside 3D-printed materials much like those intertwined worms. “We can now 3D print adhesive materials strong enough to mechanically support tissue,” said co-first author Matt Davidson, a research associate in the Burdick Lab. “We have never been able to do that before.” Burdick imagines a day when 3D-printed materials could be used to repair defects in hearts, deliver tissue-regenerating drugs directly to organs or cartilage, restrain bulging discs or stitch patients in the operating room without inflicting tissue damage as a needle and suture can. Link to brief video and recently published research enclosed.

🟥 Bioprinting and Scaffold Integration of Organoids for Functional Tissue Engineering Bioprinting and scaffold integration are driving a new frontier in regenerative medicine by transforming organoids into implantable, functional tissues. While stem cell-derived organoids can mimic the structure and function of real organs, their clinical applications are often limited by size, shape, and lack of vascularization. But bioprinting techniques and biocompatible scaffolds now offer solutions to overcome these limitations, enabling the construction of more organized and physiologically relevant tissue structures. 3D bioprinting allows for the precise placement of cells, organoids, extracellular matrix (ECM), and growth factors in a defined spatial arrangement. When combined with bioinks tailored to the properties of the target tissue, researchers can fabricate complex multicellular structures that mimic native tissue architecture. The technology improves structural integrity and supports organoid maturation and integration into functional tissue units. Scaffold integration plays a key role in providing mechanical support and guiding organoid growth and organization. Scaffolds made from natural or synthetic biomaterials such as collagen, alginate, or PLGA can be engineered to promote vascularization, cell adhesion, and nutrient diffusion. These structures enable organoids to grow in a controlled, scalable manner and enhance their potential for transplantation or in vivo regeneration. Applications of the above technologies include printing liver, kidney, and heart tissue, integrating neural organoids with conductive scaffolds to repair the brain, and generating airway structures for lung regeneration. With the continuous advancement of biomaterials science, tissue biomechanics, and vascular engineering, bioprinting and scaffold technology are making organoid-based tissue engineering a powerful platform for disease modeling, drug testing, and personalized regenerative therapies. Reference [1] Michelle Huang et al., Nature Reviews Bioengineering 2025 (https://lnkd.in/eTb23WFw) #Organoids #Bioprinting #TissueEngineering #ScaffoldDesign #RegenerativeMedicine #3DBiology #StemCells #PrecisionMedicine #BiotechInnovation #Vascularization #TransplantTherapies #FunctionalOrganoids #CSTEAMBiotech

AI generated: Nicholas Peppas's work revolutionized hydrogel understanding by linking synthesis to structure and function, developing key mathematical models (like the Peppas diffusion equation), pioneering "intelligent" stimuli-responsive gels (for pH or T response), and creating practical chemical and biomedical applications like non-toxic cartilage replacements and oral insulin delivery systems, all based on precise control of polymer networks, swelling, and transport phenomena. His research provided fundamental theories for rational design, allowing precise tuning of hydrogel properties like stiffness, mesh size, and solute diffusion for advanced drug delivery and tissue engineering.  Key Contributions to Hydrogel Structure & Function: Swollen Polymer Network (SPN) Model: Developed fundamental theories and mathematical models (e.g., Peppas-Reinhart, Brannon-Peppas) to understand how synthesis variables (crosslinking, concentration) dictate network structure, swelling, stiffness, and solute transport. Structure-Property Relationships: Systematically investigated how synthesis conditions affect swelling and solute diffusivity, showing that transport isn't just size-dependent but linked to network mesh size and polymer relaxation. Intelligent/Responsive Hydrogels: Pioneered pH-sensitive and glucose-responsive gels that swell or collapse based on environment, crucial for protecting insulin in the stomach and releasing it in the intestine. Biomaterial Development: Created novel, non-toxic Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels using freeze-thaw cycles, successfully used as cartilage and vocal cord replacements. Transport Phenomena: Provided foundational models (like the Peppas equation) to describe Fickian and anomalous diffusion of drugs within hydrogel matrices, essential for controlled release.  Impact: Led to the creation of advanced delivery devices for proteins, peptides, and other drugs, reducing the need for injections (e.g., oral insulin). Established a rational design framework for application-optimized hydrogels in tissue engineering, biosensing, and bionanotechnology. 

Excited to share our latest work, "#Engineering the #Hierarchical #Porosity of #Granular #Hydrogel #Scaffolds using Porous #Microgels to Improve #Cell Recruitment and #Tissue Integration," published in Advanced Functional Materials! In this study, we tackled a key limitation of granular hydrogel scaffolds (GHS) — limited porosity due to spherical nonporous microgels — by introducing porous microgels fabricated through thermally induced polymer phase separation. This approach resulted in: i) Approximately 170% increase in void fraction compared with nonporous microgel-based GHS; (ii) Preservation of structural stability despite increased porosity; (iii) Significantly higher and more uniform cell infiltration in vitro and in vivo; (iv) Up to ~ 78% increase in cell infiltration in vivo. This work sets the foundation for developing next-generation granular biomaterials with hierarchical porosity, improved cell recruitment, and enhanced tissue integration — paving the way for faster and more effective tissue repair. A big thank you to my incredible team for their outstanding effort! 👉 Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/euJPcnQs #weare #pennstate #chemicalengineering #biomedicalengineering #chemistry #neurosurgery #BSMaL #Biomaterials #TissueEngineering #Hydrogels #RegenerativeMedicine #PorousMaterials

The most sophisticated patent office exists in every forest, ocean, and desert around us. Nature has tested and perfected designs through five mass extinctions. We call ourselves innovators, but we are often just catching up. In 30+ years of engineering, I have learned that deconstructing biological mechanisms offers solutions to problems we have struggled with for decades. Consider how gecko setae microstructures now inform medical adhesives that stick without chemicals; how termite mound principles cut building energy usage by 40%; and how mussel proteins enable bonding underwater without toxic treatments. These blueprints remind us that inspiration alone does not complete the job; we need countless iterations to refine solutions. My Zen garden reminds me daily that each plant, stone, and waterway represents countless generations of optimization. What appears simple often masks extraordinary complexity. The most valuable engineering approach is not always creating from scratch, but methodically analyzing what already works perfectly in natural systems. This practice of biomimicry offers a proven pathway to superior design.

From Skeptic to Believer: A New Era for PEEK Interbody Devices As many of you know, I've spent years championing titanium technology in spine fusion. My work with TitanSpine/ Medtronic and our published research has consistently demonstrated titanium's superiority - particularly the nanoLock surface technology. I haven't been shy about pointing out PEEK's limitations. So when Barbara D. Boyan invited me to collaborate on research involving a novel 3D-printed PEEK technology, I'll admit - I was skeptical. 🤔 But the data changed my mind. 📊 Our new publication in *Biomaterials* demonstrates that **Porous PEEK with HA nanocoating (PP-HA)** represents a fundamental departure from traditional solid PEEK. This isn't incremental improvement - it's a reimagining of what PEEK can do. 🔬 Four key innovations that surgeons need to understand: 1️⃣ True Trabecular Architecture Fused Strand Deposition creates a fully interconnected, open-porous PEEK lattice (100-600 μm) that mimics actual trabecular bone microstructure. Unlike surface-porous designs with via leaching, this FSD technology provides continuous pathways for bone through-growth - not just on-growth. 2️⃣ Hydroxyapatite Nanocoating Changes Everything A proprietary post-printing process applies HA nanocrystals to the entire exposed porous surface. (Promimic HAFUSE)This creates super-hydrophilicity (near-zero water contact angle) that dramatically accelerates early osseointegration. The HA coating facilitates critical events in the first 2-4 weeks - the window that often determines fusion success. ⚡ 3️⃣ Biological Signaling That Matters The micro-textured architecture + hydrophilic HA coating actively promotes cellular responses essential for vascularized bone formation. Both MSCs and immune cells produce elevated VEGF, driving the angiogenesis necessary for robust fusion. 🧬 4️⃣ MSC Differentiation at the Interface Enhanced osteoblast differentiation occurs directly at the implant surface - the hallmark of genuine osseointegration rather than fibrous encapsulation. 💡 My Take for Surgeons: If you're committed to titanium - the Medtronic Cranial and Spine Therapies *Titan nanoLOCK* remains the gold standard with the most robust clinical and scientific evidence. ✅ But if you prefer PEEK's radiolucency and modulus characteristics, this 3D-printed trabecular PEEK from Curiteva, Inc. represents the best opportunity to achieve successful fusion with a polymer-based device. 🎯 The synergy between biomimetic trabecular architecture and surface nanotechnology addresses the historical challenge of fibrous tissue formation that has plagued solid PEEK implants. The CT image shows what we're all chasing - solid fusion with host bone integration. 🦴 #SpineSurgery #Biomaterials #Innovation #SpinalFusion #PEEK #Osseointegration https://lnkd.in/e__x9ys5 Kevin Foley, M.D.Erik Erbe, PhD,Chambliss Harrod

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

We are thrilled to share our latest publication in Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials (IF: 23.2): "Digital light processing 3D printing of dual crosslinked meniscal scaffolds with enhanced physical and biological properties." The study is a collaboration between NYU Tandon School of Engineering and New York University, NY. Meniscal tissue regeneration poses significant challenges, but our study introduces a breakthrough solution: dual-crosslinked GelMA scaffolds enhanced with tannic acid (TA). These innovative scaffolds combine mechanical robustness with biological functionality, making them ideal for load-bearing applications like meniscal repair. Key highlights include: Tailored mechanical properties matching native meniscus. Enhanced antioxidant, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties. Support for human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation. Precise 3D printing for patient-specific scaffold designs. This work acknowledges New York University Abu Dhabi Postdoc Collaborative Grant Program and the New York University Research Enhancement Fund. We extend our gratitude for their commitment to advancing cutting-edge research. The article is available at (open access): https://lnkd.in/efvj2sUC Kamil Elkhoury; Vijayavenkataraman Sanjairaj, NYU Tandon School of Engineering. #GelMA, #biomaterials, # 3Dprinting, #additivemanufacturing, #scaffold.