Project of Biomaterials Design & Processing

Engineering synthetic bone

A process that mimics in vivo bone formation is beyond the reach of current technologies

  • Noemy Vergara Vera

Human bone is a complex hierarchical structure that integrates both organic (collagen) and inorganic (hydroxyapatite) components, giving it a unique combination of mechanical strength and toughness. Although not fully understood, bone formation involves simultaneous and integrated collagen self-assembly and mineralization under specific physical and chemical conditions. This project investigates the factors impacting bone formation and translates these findings into a multi-scale printing process that mimics collagen formation and mineralization in vitro.