Researchers from KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven have managed to engineer living implants in the lab by mimicking how bone tissue is created in an embryo. The technology paves the way for bone-regenerating tissue implants created on an industrial scale using 3D bioprinting. The researchers expect the first living implants to be available to patients in four years.
Scientists have long been searching for a way to create living implants to replace missing bone tissue. Patients with large bone defects, for instance after an accident or infection, are currently treated with healthy bone tissue taken from that same patient, or from someone else. Both approaches have serious limitations and side effects. ...
