3D Bio-printing of Human Bone and Cartilage Constructs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
3D Bio-printing of Human Bone and Cartilage Constructs
IRAS ID
219132
Contact name
Gareth Stephen Turnbull
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Strathclyde
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 2 days
Research summary
Patients can be left with significant damage and defects to their bone and cartilage through conditions such as arthritis, cancer, infection, inflammatory disease and trauma. When patients with these conditions are unable to obtain adequate improvement from medical treatment, surgery is considered. This may involve joint replacement, bone grafting or insertion of metalwork to help reconstruct limbs.
Joint replacement is increasingly common with over 75000 knee replacements performed annually in the UK. However, joint replacements have a finite life expectancy. Patients can also experience ongoing symptoms such as pain and stiffness after surgery.
When patients have loss of bone due to conditions such as trauma or infection, grafting may be necessary. This involves transplanting bone from one part of the body to another. However, this has limitations such as post-operative donor site pain or numbness and limited availability of graft sites, especially in paediatric patients.
There is therefore a need for a novel option to supplement current treatment of arthritis and other bony defects. As an emerging technology, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting offers a potential solution. Bioprinting can be used to deposit cells and other biological materials in user-defined patterns to build complex tissue constructs.
Through use of a 3D bioprinter this project will attempt to print osteochondral structures containing cells and biological materials. Tissue normally discarded as waste during a hip replacement will be sourced from a local hospital, and cells for printing harvested from this in Strathclyde University. Tissue from one patient would likely be sufficient, following their consent and NHS ethical approval being granted. Materials such as hydroxyapatite also to be printed will be sourced commercially. The project is funded by a secured grant and over the next three years will test different cell and biomaterial combinations, hoping to create a osteochondral structure with translational potential in the future.REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0010
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion