3D-printed regenerative blood products boost healing

Described in Advanced Materials, the ‘biocooperative’ materials combine a subject’s own blood with peptide amphiphiles (PAs) that guide the biological healing process. Together, the blood and PAs mimic the function of the regenerative hematoma (RH), a complex cluster of healing cells and molecules that forms in response to injury.

The materials can then be assembled, manipulated and even 3D printed while maintaining normal functions of the natural RH such as platelet behaviour, generation of growth factors, and recruitment of relevant healing cells. Using the method, the team was able to successfully repair bone in animal models using the animal’s own blood.

“For years, scientists have been looking at synthetic approaches to recreate the natural regenerative environment, which has proven difficult given its inherent complexity,” said study lead Alvaro Mata, Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials at Nottingham University.

“Here, we have taken an approach to try to work with biology instead of recreating it. This ‘biocooperative’ approach opens opportunities to develop regenerative materials by harnessing and enhancing mechanisms of the natural healing process. In other words, our approach aims to use regenerative mechanisms that we have evolved with as fabrication steps to engineer regenerative materials.”

According to the Nottingham team, the research provides proof-of-concept for a biocooperative approach that goes beyond biomimicry, enhancing the body’s natural processes rather than just seeking to recreate them. The ability to 3D print blood-based implants specific to individual patients has the potential to transform regenerative medicine.   

“The possibility to easily and safely turn people’s blood into highly regenerative implants is really exciting,” said study co-author Dr Cosimo Ligorio, from Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering.

“Blood is practically free and can be easily obtained from patients in relatively high volumes. Our aim is to establish a toolkit that could be easily accessed and used within a clinical setting to rapidly and safely transform patients’ blood into rich, accessible, and tuneable regenerative implants.”