# Bone Regeneration Induced by the Sustained Release of Osteoinductive microRNAs from 3D-printed Constructs

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2022 · $34,381

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Large bone defects are clincially challenging to treat and often necessitate bone grafting. Natural grafting
options include autografts and allografts; however, these replacement tissues are limited in supply and difficult
to match to the dimensional irregularities of complex bone defects. The development of tissue-engineered (TE)
synthetic grafts has become essential to overcome the limitations of natural grafts; however, deficient scaffold
fabrication methods and inefficient osteoinductive agents have prevented the clinical translation of traditional
TE constructs. Therefore, the design of advanced synthetic grafts that overcome these limitations would
greatly impact the clinical treatment of large bone defects. The long-term goal of this proposed work is to
develop biodegradable, 3D-printed constructs with osteoconductive and inductive properties toward clinical use
for the treatment of patient-specific bone defects. The objective of this proposal aims to develop a TE construct
for bone regeneration using a hybrid materials approach that includes both synthetic and natural polymers in
the 3D-printed structure, combined with the sustained release of osteoinductive microRNAs. Advanced TE
constructs for this investigation will combine 3D-printable, FDA-approved polymers with tunable biodegradation
rates with natural polymer coatings to sustain the release of osteoinductive microRNAs. The central hypothesis
of this work is that the sustained release of osteoinductive microRNAs from polymer-coated 3D-printed
constructs will enhance the osteogenic capabilities of synthetic grafts by prolonging regenerative signaling to
maximize bone regeneration. To test this hypothesis, we will characterize microRNA release from polymer-
coated 3D-printed constructs (Aim 1), assess in vitro osteogenic differentiation induced by microRNA release
from polymer-coated constructs (Aim 2), and evaluate the bone regeneration potential of polymer-coated
microRNA-incorporated 3D-printed constructs (Aim 3). Collectively, these data with elucidate mechanisms in
which microRNA release from polymer-coated 3D-printed scaffolds can be optimized to sustain the release of
osteoinductive signals and maximize bone regeneration. These results will advance the development of
synthetic TE constructs to include both osteoconductive and inductive properties that will effectively promote
bone regeneration, and thus significantly impact the clinical treatment of challenging, patient-specific bone
defects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10487443
- **Project number:** 5F31DE031153-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew T Remy
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $34,381
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-03 → 2023-05-12

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10487443

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10487443, Bone Regeneration Induced by the Sustained Release of Osteoinductive microRNAs from 3D-printed Constructs (5F31DE031153-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10487443. Licensed CC0.

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