Through the years, we’ve seen quite a few examples of 3D printing used to make scaffolds for bone regeneration, however that is the primary time I’ve heard of one of these materials getting used for it: lotus root. The perennial, aquatic lotus plant primarily grows in Asia and Australia, and its subterranean stem, or root, is commonly used as an ingredient in lots of Asian dishes, together with soups and salads. However for the final ten years, researchers at Wuhan Polytechnic College’s Faculty of Meals Science and Engineering have been extracting fibers from lotus roots for a really totally different cause.
One of many important researchers engaged on the mission, Professor Jiang Xueyu, says that lotus roots are very wealthy in fiber, which is without doubt one of the the reason why they’ve chosen to make use of this distinctive materials. Based on a information outlet in Hubei, China, the group is utilizing the lotus root fibers to make 3D printed, custom-made bone scaffolds for supporting cell regeneration in bones. If their work is ready to be tailored for medical use, the expertise may majorly enhance affected person restoration, in addition to considerably decrease therapy prices.
Lotus root. Photograph by Heather Teoh through the Meals Literacy Middle
Bone implants are medical units which can be surgically inserted into the physique to reinforce, and even substitute, bone tissue. Metal implants usually are not at all times appropriate, and bigger surgical incisions are sometimes wanted to insert them, which may enhance a affected person’s restoration time. Whereas bone itself can have self-healing skills, grafts are crucial to revive the tissue, which include their very own issues. That’s why there’s been loads of analysis on substitute bone supplies, like 3D printed ceramics, coral, and now lotus root.
The 3D printed lotus fiber scaffolds are tailor-made to particular bone defects, and the researchers say they combine naturally with the physique (versus conventional metal implants), encouraging bone cell development alongside the construction. This can majorly pace up the affected person’s therapeutic course of. Moreover, a second surgical procedure is probably going not wanted to take away these implants as a result of they’re mentioned to degrade at a charge that matches the formation of latest bone. The analysis group’s work is at the moment present process animal trials.
3D printed supplies from lotus root fibers.
Nonetheless, based on Professor Yi Yang, who’s main this analysis group, “their improvements prolong past medical functions.” Yang claims that their work has truly modified how lotus root is processed as a meals ingredient. Usually, lotus root starch manufacturing strategies produce loads of pointless wastewater, and do away with some essential vitamins. So Professor Yang’s group developed “complete lotus root powder,” which not solely improves the flavour and flexibility of the plant, but in addition preserves all of its vitamins.
The group additionally realized that in case you gelatinize lotus root powder, it has some distinctive gelling and rheological properties. This makes it nice for 3D printing meals, and their lotus root breakthrough has truly impressed a lot of new edible merchandise, similar to lotus root-infused fish muffins, prompt drinks, and even probiotic-enhanced snacks.
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