Children inspect a 3D printer at a printer exhibition. [Yonhap Photo]
A South Korean state research body claimed Wednesday to have developed a bone plate 3D printing system using protein extracted from silkworm cocoons as the plate's main material.
The Rural Development Administration said that it has developed "Silk Ink" with fibroin to make 3D print bone plates including bolts and clips to hold them together in a joint research project with Hallym University. Some 75 percent of the silkworm protein is made up of a highly biocompatible substance called fibroin.
Bone plates are normally made up of polymers or metals. However, metal plates have to be surgically removed after fractured bones finished bonding. Plates made of polymers are biodegradable, but they are expensive and lack in ability to hold the bones tightly together when compared to metal plates.
Silk ink plates feature the merits of conventional bone plates. They are strong and biodegradable. Developers expect the silk ink plates to cost about 50 percent of polymer plates and believe they can be 3D printed for round-shape bones such as skull and cheekbones.
The administration said no foreign body reaction or inflammation was found in animal tests. It plans to apply for a patent and commercialize its new system.
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
