Traditional metal implants, while providing good support, can cause inflammation over time and involve high risks during removal. A team led by Kuo-Yi Yang, a researcher at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), has successfully developed a new type of biodegradable iron-based medical material using additive manufacturing technology. This material not only possesses excellent mechanical strength but also features a precisely designed porous structure that controls the degradation rate. This allows it to support and stabilize the bone during healing, gradually degrading after the bone has healed. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize orthopedic surgery and significantly improve patients' quality of life.
Biomimetic Design and Precise Control: Additive Manufacturing Creates Customized Medical Materials
The biodegradable iron-based medical material developed by ITRI uses a biomimetic porous structure to closely mimic the microenvironment of human bone, promoting bone integration and reducing rejection reactions between the implant and surrounding tissues.
The ITRI team utilized additive manufacturing technology to create medical materials with a biomimetic porous structure from iron-based materials. This unique design not only provides sufficient mechanical strength but also promotes bone cell growth and accelerates bone healing. Through precise laser sintering technology, the team controlled the pore size between 50-300 microns and achieved a porosity of 30-60%, perfectly simulating the microstructure of human bone, providing the space and nutrients needed for bone cell growth.
Moreover, the team can precisely predict the stress distribution of the material in the human body using finite element analysis (FEA), and combined with computer-aided design (CAD), they designed flexible and micro-structured bone anchors. The customized geometry and porous structure ensure that the material can withstand various loads in the body. Experimental results showed that, compared to traditional metal implants, the biodegradable iron-based material significantly enhanced the rate of bone integration. After 8 weeks of implantation, the bone integration rate reached over 90%. This technological breakthrough will bring more possibilities to orthopedic surgery and provide better treatment options for patients.
Interview with Kuo-Yi Yang: Biodegradable Metal Medical Materials to Lead a New Trend in the Medical Materials Industry
In an interview, Kuo-Yi Yang emphasized that the biodegradable iron-based medical material developed by the team not only solves the drawbacks of traditional metal implants but also provides patients with safer and more comfortable treatment options. Moving forward, the team will continue to refine this technology and actively collaborate with the industry to translate research findings into clinical applications, bringing benefits to patients worldwide.
Yang highlighted that additive manufacturing technology offers endless possibilities for the medical materials industry. By precisely controlling materials and structures, it allows for the creation of medical devices that better meet human physiological needs. He believes that biodegradable metal medical materials will become an important trend in the future development of the medical materials industry, offering higher-quality medical services to patients.
Resource (mandarin): 可降解鐵基醫材問世，仿生結構加速骨癒合還可降低排斥反應
