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Updated: Nov 2, 2025
Novel Process for 3D Printing Decellularized Matrices
Published on: January 7, 2019
Preclinical Safety of a 3D-Printed Hydroxyapatite-Demineralized Bone Matrix Scaffold for Spinal Fusion
Mark Plantz1,2, Joseph Lyons1,2, Jonathan T Yamaguchi1,2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Study Design:
Prospective, randomized, controlled preclinical study.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to compare the host inflammatory response of our previously described hyperelastic, 3D-printed (3DP) hydroxyapatite (HA)-demineralized bone matrix (DBM) composite scaffold to the response elicited with the use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in a preclinical rat posterolateral lumbar fusion model.
Summary Of Background Data:
Our group previously found that this 3D-printed HA-DBM composite material shows promise as a bone graft substitute in a preclinical rodent model, but its safety profile had yet to be assessed.
Methods:
Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent bilateral posterolateral intertransverse lumbar spinal fusion using with the following implants: 1) type I absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) alone; 2) 10 μg rhBMP-2/ACS; or 3) the 3DP HA-DBM composite scaffold (n = 20). The host inflammatory response was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging, while the local and circulating cytokine expression levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays at subsequent postoperative time points (N = 5/time point).
Results:
At both 2 and 5 days postoperatively, treatment with the HA-DBM scaffold produced significantly less soft tissue edema at the fusion bed site relative to rhBMP-2-treated animals as quantified on magnetic resonance imaging. At every postoperative time point evaluated, the level of soft tissue edema in HA-DBM-treated animals was comparable to that of the ACS control group. At 2 days postoperatively, serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 were significantly elevated in the rhBMP-2 treatment group relative to ACS controls, whereas these cytokines were not elevated in the HA-DBM-treated animals.
Conclusion:
The 3D-printed HA-DBM composite induces a significantly reduced host inflammatory response in a preclinical spinal fusion model relative to rhBMP-2.Level of Evidence: N/A.
