Research in the spotlight: Innovative 3D model speeds up bone healing
Innovative 3D model mimics bone healing and could improve treatments for complex fractures
Research in the spotlight: Innovative 3D model speeds up bone healing
In “Research in the Spotlight,” we showcase a groundbreaking project that has emerged from a collaboration funded through the Internal Call of the Alliance VU-UT. This edition features a pioneering study led by Nathalie Bravenboer (Amsterdam UMC) and Liliana Moreira Teixeira Leijten (UT), which focuses on improving treatment methods for bone fractures and has the potential to significantly enhance care for patients with complex fractures.
The challenge: when bone fractures fail to heal
In most cases, bone fractures heal naturally, but sometimes complications arise in the form of a non-union – a break that fails to heal. This can lead to pain, reduced mobility and complex treatments. What if we could create a realistic laboratory model of bone healing to test and refine new therapies? This is precisely what researchers from ACTA (Dentistry, UvA and VU Amsterdam), Amsterdam UMC, VU Amsterdam and the UT aim to achieve.
An advanced 3d model for bone healing
The project focuses on developing an innovative 3D model that closely mimics the natural bone healing process. By creating a reliable and reproducible system, researchers aim to improve the testing of new treatments while reducing the reliance on animal testing and early-stage clinical trials.
Fewer surgeries and faster recovery
This innovative model provides researchers with a powerful tool to develop and refine advanced therapies for bone fractures. Not only can it lead to more effective treatments, but it could also reduce the number of surgeries and speed up the recovery process. If successful, the model could contribute to pioneering new treatment strategies that significantly improve care for patients with complex fractures.
Future outlook
In the long term, the ambition is to further refine the model and expand its applications to other fields such as orthopaedics, regenerative medicine and beyond.
This research has the potential to be a major breakthrough in the treatment of complex bone fractures.
Pictured from left to right: Jianfeng Jin, Jenneke Klein-Nulend, Peter Nolte, Dodo Wassenberg, Nathalie Bravenboer, Marco Helder, Liliana Moreira Teixeira en Francisco Pereira Dos Santos Conceicao