Joshua Campbell, DDS

3D Printing to Generate a Novel Biomimetic Platform for Oral/Maxillofacial Bone Tissue Engineering

Dr. Campbell is currently employed at Farragut Oral Surgery and Implant Center in Knoxville, TN. Previously he was an assistant professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. His research interests are in regenerative medicine and in clinical practice. He works closely with the researchers at UT Medical Center and UT College of Veterinary Medicine.

 

 

Optimizing the reconstruction of large bone defects is a challenge within the realm of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The proposed study aims to 3D bioprint osteoinductive scaffolds and subsequently test in an animal model of bone regeneration. This hybrid scaffold, made of an FDA approved degradable polymer and a carbon-based nanomaterial, will have significantly enhanced osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties as well as greater osseointegration compared to commercially available bone substitutes currently used in oral and maxillofacial surgeries. Additionally, the 3D printed scaffolds can be fabricated to fit the exact size of the bone defect. The 3D printed scaffolds will be impregnated with human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) and implanted into a non-segmental mandibular defect in adult Sprague Dawley rats. Rats will be randomly divided into 6 treatment groups: Group I – 3D printed composite scaffold alone; Group II – 3D printed composite scaffold + AdMSCs; Group III – 3D printed polymer scaffold alone; Group IV – 3D printed polymer scaffold alone + AdMSCs; Group V – OsteoSelect DBM putty; Group VI – Vivigen (DBM+allogenic osteocytes). Twelve rats per treatment group will be assessed after euthanasia at 7 and 90 days post-therapy. Each implant-bone segment will be harvested after euthanasia, and analyzed, first by using computed tomography (CT) followed by histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry. These analyses will be used to evaluate new bone formation and thus healing of the defect. We hypothesize that the group using 3D printed scaffolds impregnated with adult AdMSCs will allow for more efficient healing and new bone formation in the critical sized non-segmental mandibular defects of rats compared to the 3D printed scaffold-only group or the commercially available bone substitutes. The results of this study will have a huge impact on translating this bone tissue engineering strategy into human and veterinary medicine.