Overview

• A peer-reviewed Device study reports 12-week repairs of critical femoral defects in rabbits with no infection or necrosis and greater bone regeneration than bone cement.
• The printable filament blends hydroxyapatite and polycaprolactone, with PCL melting near 60°C to allow in situ deposition that conforms to irregular defects without thermal injury.
• Loaded vancomycin and gentamicin released locally over weeks and inhibited E. coli and S. aureus in laboratory assays.
• The compact, manually operated tool lets surgeons adjust direction, angle, and depth during application, with grafts produced in minutes.
• Researchers outline plans for standardized manufacturing, sterilization validation, and large-animal studies toward approvals, as an outside expert questions widespread adoption over centralized 3D printing.