3D printable bio-glass scaffold shows promise as bone replacement

Researchers in China have developed a novel 3D printable bio-active glass scaffold that shows promise as a bone replacement material. Unlike traditional glass, which is brittle and difficult to shape safely for medical use, this new bio-glass combines silica particles with calcium and phosphate ions to form a printable gel. This gel can be hardened at a relatively low temperature (1,300°F), avoiding the toxic plasticizers and extreme heat (above 2,000°F) typically required in glass 3D printing. In animal tests involving rabbit skull repair, the bio-glass scaffold supported sustained bone cell growth over eight weeks, outperforming plain silica glass and nearly matching a leading commercial dental bone substitute in durability. The key innovation lies in the “green” inorganic 3D printing strategy, which uses self-healing colloidal gels made from silica-based nanospheres that attract each other electrostatically. This method eliminates the need for organic additives, reduces costs, preserves bioactivity, and enhances printability and shape