3D-printable glass as a bone substitute
September 23, 2025 – Repairing bone defects remains a major challenge in medicine. Metal implants or materials that do not fully integrate with bone tissue are often used. Researchers now propose an alternative: a 3D-printable bioactive glass that, after heating, forms a hydrogel-like network that supports bone cell growth.
The glass is composed of building blocks naturally present in bone, such as calcium and phosphate ions. Unlike many synthetic materials, it contains no toxic plasticizers. It can also be processed at relatively low temperatures around 700 °C. After printing, a solid yet porous material is obtained, allowing cells to grow inside.
In animal studies with rabbits, bone tissue grew steadily on this glass, more effectively than on conventional glass. After several weeks, clear signs of new bone formation were observed. The material remained stable and provided an environment that promoted natural bone regeneration.
Because the glass is 3D-printable, it can in principle be customized for complex shapes such as cranial or jaw segments. This opens opportunities for surgical procedures where precision and biocompatibility are essential.
The research was published in early September in ACS Nano under the title ‘Rational Design of Purely Inorganic Self-Healing Colloidal Hydrogels To Enable ‘Green’ 3D Printing of Bioglass-Based Bone Substitutes.” ACS Nano (DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c06377)
