New biocompatible conductive ink for sensoring bone regeneration

 
The Smart Bone Regeneration (SBR) EU project aims to design and to develop a novel implant which can be applied around the bone gap to serve as a containment system for bone graft materials and as a host matrix for viral carriers and /or stem cells to guide and accelerate bone regeneration. Implant acceptance and bone healing will be monitored by smart sensors. Electrical connections of these sensors should be biocompatible, as consequence, common metallic inks including silver must be replaced by gold and platinum. In addition, processability at low temperature and compatibility with polymeric substrates are also some of the ink requirements. 3D dispenser has been selected as the most suitable printing technology due to its flexibility and potential adaptability to print highly conductive inks for new sensor designs, which can be easily integrated on the implant body. A biocompatible water-base platinum 3D dispenser ink has recently been developed in the project. Promising results of electrical conductivity for 3D dispenser printed inks have been obtained.