A collaboration between Beni-Suef University, the University of Huddersfield and the 3M BIC, pioneering 4D-printed magnesium dental implants to improve fracture repair. By extending magnesium’s degradation time and ensuring safe removal from the body, the project aims to reduce multiple surgeries to a single operation, revolutionising bone tissue regeneration treatments.
Fracture repair often requires multiple surgeries – typically two to three operations – to fully correct the injury and promote healing. To reduce this burden on patients, researchers from Beni-Suef University in Egypt, in collaboration with the University of Huddersfield and the 3M BIC, are exploring the use of magnesium as a bone fixation and regeneration material.
While magnesium offers excellent properties for promoting bone fixation and growth, a significant challenge lies in its degradation. Currently available magnesium alloys degrade within 28 days, which is insufficient for complete bone fixation and regeneration. Additionally, excessive magnesium levels in the body can be toxic. The researchers aim to address these dual challenges to create a safer and more effective solution for fracture repair.
The team is harnessing the potential of 4D-printed magnesium implants, which adapt over time to support the bone’s natural healing process. Magnesium’s unique properties promote bone tissue growth, but the key is extending its presence in the body to around 90 days – long enough for the bone to regenerate.
The researchers are working on methods to facilitate the removal of magnesium from the body once its purpose is served. This includes studying how magnesium is metabolised, and which organs might safely process and eliminate it.
If successful, this innovative approach could revolutionise fracture treatment, reducing the need for multiple surgeries to a single operation. By enabling magnesium implants to degrade at an optimal rate, the material could serve as an effective bone substitute while ensuring patient safety.
This research has the potential to not only improve outcomes for fracture patients but also pave the way for magnesium-based solutions in broader medical applications, combining advanced 4D printing with cutting-edge regenerative medicine.
“Our goal is to create a transformative solution for fracture repair – one that not only promotes natural bone regeneration but also simplifies treatment by reducing surgeries. Through advanced 4D printing and innovative magnesium processing, we aim to enhance patient outcomes and safety in regenerative medicine.”
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