3D-printed BIOlogized inserts for the repair of MAXillofacial bone defects – 3DBioMax

The rehabilitation of large bone defects, such as mandibulectomies, is a major challenge in maxillofacial surgery. As an alternative to autografts, a device reproducing the mechanical loading properties of bone while containing progenitor cells and growth factors, promoting both osteogenesis and angiogenesis, is highly sought after. This project aims to develop a 3D printed “custom-made” insert, mechanically-robust but porous acting as a support for a hydrogel containing mesenchymal stem cells derived from the dental pulp. An in vitro approach will be conducted to optimize the porous structure of the insert to obtain suitable mechanical properties while allowing a dialogue between the enclosed cells and the surrounding tissues, in particular neo-angiogenesis. A rodent preclinical mandible model adapted to load-bearing defects will be optimized and then used to evaluate the bone regeneration capacity of our devices.