Research Projects

The present proposal aims to develop a biodegradable, biocompatible, and elastic bilayered periosteum-mimicking universal ready-to-use scaffold patch specifically designed for bone regeneration. Central to the innovation is a novel proprietary resin, being utilized for the first time in bone tissue engineering applications via LCD-based 3D printing. This high-elongation biocompatible resin may be premixed with osteoconductive materials to enhance bone matrix synthesis (osteoconductivity) and mechanical strength. The scaffold is biomimetically designed to replicate the structural and functional features of the natural periosteum. The outer layer is engineered to mimic the fibrous layer of the periosteum, providing mechanical resilience, inhibiting epithelial ingression and promoting vascular integration. The inner cambium-like layer features Sharpey’s fiber-inspired micro-projections that facilitate mechanical interlocking and biological interaction with native bone or bone substitutes. Post-printing functionalization of this inner layer further enhances cellular adhesion, osteoinductivity, and bioactivity. Importantly, the need for a standalone periosteum-mimicking scaffold arises from the critical role the natural periosteum plays in bone regeneration. While current bone substitutes and fillers focus primarily on structural support, they lack the biological cues and regulatory influence of the periosteum, particularly the cambium layer, which harbors osteoprogenitor cells and growth factors essential for initiating and regulating bone repair. In many clinical cases such as open fractures, tumor resections, or revision surgeries, the native periosteum is damaged or entirely lost. A biomimetic periosteum scaffold, therefore, acts not merely as a covering but as an active regenerative interface, offering spatial, cellular, and biochemical support to guide osteogenesis. By serving as a modular add-on to existing grafts or nanomaterials like bone cement, it restores the periosteum's biological function and provides a much-needed advancement in the treatment of critical-sized bone defects and non-union fractures. The suturable OsteoThrive scaffold is designed to conform to irregular bone geometries, support stem cell or osteoblast loading, and degrade in synchrony with new bone formation. The use of LCD-based 3D printing ensures high-precision, cost-effective, and patient-specific fabrication. This first-of-its-kind periosteum-mimicking scaffold integrates material innovation with biomimetic design, offering a clinically translatable solution to bridge the current gap in bone tissue engineering.