New doped 3-D printed scaffolds to accelerate bone healing in complex fractures

Members of our research team, together with our collaborators at UB and UAB, have recently published a new study in Materials Today Bio, about a new generation of 3D-printed scaffolds that don't just sit in the body as passive structures, but actively encourage bone to grow back faster and stronger.

The challenge with traditional bone grafts has always been finding a balance between mechanical strength and biological activity. Our team proposes the use of biomimetic hydroxyapatite, a material that closely mimics the natural mineral composition of our bones, and processing it through advanced 3D printing. The novelty in this study, however, lies in the addition of two specific elements: strontium and gallium.

While strontium is well-known for its ability to stimulate bone-forming cells and decrease bone resorption, gallium is highly known for decreasing bone resorption and has also shown to enhance bioactivity and mineralization in bone-forming cells. By doping the 3D-printed structures with these elements, the team created a smart environment that tells the body’s cells exactly what to do.

The in vivo results were particularly encouraging. When these scaffolds were tested, the presence of strontium and gallium led to a visible enhancement in bone regeneration compared to standard materials. Additionally, both ions demonstrated osteinductive properties, and gallium’s osteoinductive properties were demonstrated for the first time in an ectopic in vivo model. The 3D-printed architecture provided the necessary "highway" for new cells to travel through, while the chemical signals from the minerals acted as the fuel for the recovery.

This research, which is available in Open Access, represents a collaborative effort between engineers, biologists, and clinicians. It brings us one step closer to personalized treatments for patients suffering from large bone defects, where a custom-printed piece could be the key to a full and rapid recovery. 

Read the full paper: 

I. Lodoso-Torrecilla, D. Moreno, G. Ciucci , M. Mateu-Sanz, J.Y. Yoon, E. Jimenez-Pique, J. Franch, M.C. Manzanares, J. Konka, M. Espanol, M.P. Ginebra. Strontium and gallium doping enhances in vivo bone regeneration in biomimetic hydroxyapatite 3D-printed scaffolds. Materials Today Bio 38 (2026) 103131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103131