PI: B. Reeja Jayan
University: Carnegie Mellon University
Industry Partner: CAbertech Inc.
Trauma or disease can cause severe damage or complete loss of bone structure, and techniques for repairing such injuries are limited. The current standard treatment methods often incorporate metallic support structures. However, the significant differences in the mechanical properties of metal and natural bone cause bone tissue breakdown in the long term. A collaboration between a multidisciplinary team with expertise in materials and additive manufacturing (Jayan Lab, NextManufacturing CMU) and CAberTech Inc. was formed to additively manufacture, calcium aluminate-based synthetic bone material to create customized, implantable, load bearing, resorbable bone scaffolds. These 3D printed scaffolds can be modified easily to incorporate chemically linked, bioactive molecules to enhance bone growth (rhBMP-2) and/or antibiotics to potentially reduce healthcare costs and improve patient recovery. We anticipate the results of this project will obtain up to $20 million venture capital financing, regulatory approval, manufacturing scale-up, and creation of 30-50 jobs in Pennsylvania.