Australian scientists have developed an innovative procedure to regrow skulls with stem cells. A team from Western Australia has managed to regrow sections of the skull using a 3D printer and stem cells.

They hope to use the technology to treat patients who need cranial reconstructions. Being able to insert perfectly matching pieces of skull would greatly reduce the risk of surgical complications and improve patient outcomes. The first human clinical trial will take place next year at the Royal Perth Hospital.

Participants will be people with severe skull damage and people who have had a piece of their skull removed for surgery. The research was funded by the Western Australian state government, who hope to use the technology to reduce costs and improve efficiency in the public health service.

The Australian newspaper reports that a neurosurgeon, two engineers, a surgeon and a chief scientist will work with a 3D printing company in Vienna to develop the unique skull implants. Each 3D printed section of skull will precisely match the patient’s head.

Under normal circumstances, bone removed from a patient would be placed in a freezer and later reinserted. The problem with this approach is that infection is common and sometimes the bone would not reabsorb into the skull. Surgeons would often use titanium plates to ensure that a piece of skull remained in place. Those plates degrade over years and can eventually need replacing.

The new procedure involves scientists’ 3D-printing a bioceramic scaffold less than 100 microns (0.1mm) in thickness. This scaffold will closely replicate the shape of the skull segment being re-inserted. Then, millions of stem cells will be injected to form the bone section.

As neurosurgeon Marc Coughlan explains: “What we’re trying to do is take it one step further and have the ceramic resorb and then be only left with the patient’s bone, which would be exactly the same as having the skull back.”

If the clinical trials are a success, the technology will allow doctors to regrow skulls with stem cells very cheaply.

Source: Scientists to regrow skulls with stem cells and advanced 3D printing technology

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