Flexible 3D‑printed biodegradable implants for large breast reconstruction
Official title: Advanced 3D auxetic biodegradable implant for large volume breast reconstruction
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11248043 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A flexible, biodegradable 3D‑printed implant designed to help women who need large‑volume breast reconstruction after cancer surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | December 13, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $253,965 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA290907-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248043 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who require large‑volume breast reconstruction after mastectomy or major tissue loss and who are seeking alternatives to permanent silicone or saline implants would be the likely future candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking cosmetic breast augmentation without tissue loss, those needing only small-volume correction, or individuals with contraindications to implantable biomaterials are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers are designing a 3D‑printed, auxetic (highly flexible) biodegradable implant to support regeneration of large volumes of breast tissue after mastectomy. The team will scale up the implant geometry and test its mechanical behavior using computer simulations, micro‑CT imaging, and lab mechanical tests to match native fat tissue properties. They will also measure biological performance in laboratory models to see whether the design supports tissue in‑growth and blood vessel formation. The work is primarily preclinical to optimize the implant before any future human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a biodegradable implant that better matches natural breast tissue, reduces long‑term complications from permanent silicone/saline implants, and promotes the body’s own tissue regeneration.
How similar studies have gone: Biodegradable scaffold approaches have shown promise but often regenerate limited tissue volume because of poor vascular ingrowth, and this auxetic large‑scale design represents a newer, largely preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Jeong Hun — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Park, Jeong Hun
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.