Biomaterials-aided mandibular reconstruction using in vivo bioreactors
Abstract
People may suffer large losses of mandibular (jaw) bone due to cancer, infection, trauma, congenital disease, or other disorders. The resulting bony defects are both aesthetically disfiguring and functionally disabling. We have designed a strategy to use biomaterials and 3D printing to leverage the body’s own innate healing capacity to generate customized engineered tissues that fit the patient’s defect. Using a large animal (sheep) model, we 3D printed bioreactors, filled them with biomaterial scaffold materials, and implanted them against the ribs to grow customized bony tissues. These tissues were then successfully surgically transplanted to repair a large defect in the sheep mandible. This approach results in tissue flaps with custom geometry and reduced risk of rejection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2019
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1819246116
Entities
People
- Alexander M. Tatara
- Anthony Ratcliffe
- Antonios Mikos
- Brandon T. Smith
- Emma Watson
- Gerry L. Koons
- Issa A. Hanna
- James C. Melville
- Jeroen J. J. P. Van Den Beucken
- John A. Jansen
- Jonathan Shum
- Mark E. Wong
- Nagi Demian
- Sarita R. Shah
- Tang Ho
- Trenton C. Piepergerdes
Organizations
- Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine
- Baylor College of Medicine
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- National Institutes of Health
- Radboud University Medical Centre
- Rice University
- Robert and Janice McNair Foundation
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston