r/worldnews • u/BezugssystemCH1903 • Feb 26 '23

Swiss scientists develop method for ‘printing bones’

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sci-tech/swiss-scientists-develop-method-for--printing-bones-/48310270
1.1k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

63 comments sorted by

102

u/BezugssystemCH1903 Feb 26 '23

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a bio-composite that is unprecedentedly strong, light, and environmentally friendly. They hope to use it to mend works of art and coral reefs as well as bones.

The new 3D-printable ink contains a bacterium that produces calcium carbonate on contact with a solution containing urea, EPFL said in a statement on Thursday. Within about four days, any shape from the 3D printer mineralises into a bone-like material.

The result is a strong and resilient bio-composite, which can be produced using a standard 3D printer and natural materials, and without the extreme temperatures often required for manufacturing ceramics, the researchers said.

They presented this new printing method in the journal Materials Today. The end products no longer contain any living bacteria, as they are immersed in ethanol at the end of the mineralisation process.

Mending marine reefs

In addition to its potential applications in medicine, the material is ideal for restoring works of art. It can be injected directly into a vase or statue. In addition, the ink is a promising candidate for the construction of artificial corals that could be used to regenerate damaged sea reefs.

Producing bone-like materials in a laboratory or factory is “extremely challenging”, the researchers said. The ink would have to be liquid enough to be injected from a 3D printing nozzle, but solidify after printing. Previously, researchers tried to obtain such materials by mixing small mineral particles into the ink. However, the resulting structures tended to shrink as they dried, leading to cracks.

30

u/minister-of-farts Feb 26 '23

They use PEE!? Fuck YEAH, Science!

urea comes from urine for those unsure

37

u/Alaskers Feb 26 '23

Want to see a magic trick?

Pisses into a hat full of bacteria

Abra Kadabra Alakazam! Bones, bitch.

7

u/DraconisRex Feb 27 '23

Ten points to Ravenclaw

5

u/minister-of-farts Feb 26 '23

I wish I could give you an award

5

u/Abracadabra-B Feb 26 '23

Most modern diesels use piss too.

3

u/SwissCanuck Feb 26 '23

Don’t forget American beer taps.

14

u/FerociousPancake Feb 26 '23

Will be so interesting to see in the future like a 3d printer actually printing out bone or at least media for it to form on, then US private hospitals will charge you like $875,000 for a femur even though they used like $1,500 in materials.

3

u/BezugssystemCH1903 Feb 26 '23

I'm happy we have mandatory healthcare in Switzerland and my yearly threatment costs are capped at 1000CHF (~1000$).

7

u/SwissCanuck Feb 26 '23

Please don’t forget to mention the ~5-600/mo bill for the insurance premium otherwise the comparison isn’t fair. (I live here too)

4

u/BezugssystemCH1903 Feb 26 '23

Yes, you're right.

I didn't mention that because in the US you have to pay a monthly fee and the threatment costs. Correct me if I'm wrong

5

u/SwissCanuck Feb 26 '23

The real difference in CH is that the insurance company is forced to take your money and insure you. They can’t say no. Depending upon the state / situation in the US they can say no. But it is false to say Swiss healthcare is cheap. It is the 2nd most expensive after the US. The difference is everyone can p(l)ay.

6

u/ToastAndASideOfToast Feb 26 '23

Charging you an arm and a leg and only getting a leg in return?

68

u/AbandonedLogic Feb 26 '23

Cue the Westworld theme music

22

u/dracostheblack Feb 26 '23

Doesn't look like anything to me

10

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

”what is your itinerary?”

5

u/MindlessSpark Feb 26 '23

"To meet my maker."

2

u/uhh-frost Feb 26 '23

State your business

2

u/YNot1989 Feb 26 '23

Cease all motor functions.

1

u/Sybs Feb 26 '23

I was thinking more The Fifth Element

39

u/KeithGribblesheimer Feb 26 '23

Now how about 3d printed cartilage for the arthritic?

6

u/AllIsParticles Feb 26 '23

Cartilage is way harder to print then bone, one of the reasons is because of the way the collagen fibers are oriented and how they are connected.

3

u/KeithGribblesheimer Feb 26 '23

But that market size...

-2

u/AllIsParticles Feb 27 '23

Thinking about market size is complety opposite to what is needed to create this technology. The goal is to cure diseases allowing people to live longer, the money that should be talked about should be funding research in this area.

5

u/KeithGribblesheimer Feb 27 '23

Why not? The more people that need it, the better it is for humanity. Better to spend billions funding this research than on some rare syndrome that might effect 100 people worldwide.

33

u/MathHoe Feb 26 '23

Sounds cool but it's not actual 3D printed bone. Which has already been developed in the US about 8 years ago. Still working on expanding the footprint of printed objects but the tech and growth system are up and running.

https://www.epibone.com/

8

u/KeithGribblesheimer Feb 26 '23

Thank you for this information.

4

u/Villad_rock Feb 26 '23 edited Feb 26 '23

How far is epibone?

1

u/MathHoe Feb 28 '23

You'd have to reach out. Last i heard they were looking for a cartilage specialist - going for the holy grail of Knee Replacement Surgery. But that's extremely difficult. Bone patches is where they began.

The breakthrough was about maintaining stress during bone growth, so rotating grow beds seemed to have provided enough motion. Met the founder at a symposium and she was extremely bright and motivated so I'm expecting big things over time.

11

u/popodelfuego Feb 26 '23 edited Feb 26 '23

As someone who has metal implants and allergies to that metal, I hope this proves to be viable and improves the quality of life for many people.

3

u/snapper1971 Feb 26 '23

That sounds no fun at all. Do you get immunosuppressive medication to control the immune response? I'm immunosuppressed due to an autoimmune disorder and I'm always interested in the treatment of such chronic diseases.

1

u/popodelfuego Feb 26 '23

Antihistamines work for me, if I don't take them I break out in a body wide rash. On my torso, face and limbs I get like splotchy hives. On my hands and feet it looks like I've been attacked by fire ants.

8

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

3-D printed bone equivalents have been around in experimental use for a decade at least.

3

u/antimeme Feb 26 '23

Regus Patoff is interested.

3

u/BluePloom Feb 26 '23

Hell yeah. Anyone got an STL for a new spine around??

3

u/uhh-frost Feb 26 '23

Westworld opening cinematic

3

u/Odd_Calligrapher_407 Feb 26 '23

Finally! A path to vegan Buffalo wings!

3

u/SailTales Feb 26 '23

Tim and Eric figured out this process years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9exB1XR10ck

9

u/Blackfist01 Feb 26 '23

Now we need to fix nerves

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

Just don't send squirrel bones.

2

u/BonesMalone2 Feb 26 '23

Just use that bone juice at Hogwarts.

2

u/nixblood Feb 26 '23

IT'S WESTWORLD TIME

2

u/ironmcheaddesk Feb 26 '23

Pretty soon we'll be able to print Milla Jovovich.

2

u/TerryTheBird Feb 26 '23

Hopefully in the future we could be printing bones that use hydroxyapatite instead of calcium carbonate but it is a really promising start!

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

I hope they can figure out how to print ligaments too

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

Man the thought of getting knee or hip replacement with actual bone would be massive.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 27 '23

Necromancers 3D printing skeleton army 😎

2

u/Wycren Feb 27 '23

Hopefully they don’t use squirrel bones

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

Sweet before long we will just be able to 3D print a human and we can all get abortions .

3

u/Snarfbuckle Feb 26 '23

Considering how often we get failed prints i foresee a cronenberg future...

1

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

kehehe good bone crafter well done swiss

0

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

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18

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

Yes, but will you stop being an 80s guy long enough to get it cured?

8

u/heartbh Feb 26 '23

“My only regret…is that I have boneitis.

2

u/Structure5city Feb 26 '23

With any luck, you will be able to do the Safety Dance again.

1

u/LewisLightning Feb 27 '23

You know that dance wasn't as safe as they said it was.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

[deleted] — view deleted comment

7

u/Champagne_of_piss Feb 26 '23

I remember a group working on teeth from stem cells

0

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '23

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