Dissolvable hydrogel could enable personalized bone implants
Mar 9th 2026
ETH Zurich researchers made a water-rich, dissolvable hydrogel that can be laser-printed into bone-like microstructures at record speed, supports bone-forming cells in lab tests, and is moving toward animal trials for future personalized implants.
- Material is a jelly-like hydrogel made of 97% water and 3% biocompatible polymer.
- A new PVA macrothiol crosslinker enables two-photon laser writing at up to 400 mm per second with features down to about 500 nanometers.
- Design is modeled on the body’s early soft hematoma phase to encourage cell migration and nutrient flow.
- In vitro tests show bone-forming cells rapidly colonize the structures and start producing collagen.
- The material is biocompatible in lab tests, has been patented, and the team plans animal trials with the AO Research Institute Davos.
- Study published in Advanced Materials (2026); DOI 10.1002/adma.202510834