Vitamin B2 may help build a safer 3-D medical implant

Tissue engineering scaffold made with riboflavin--Courtesy of NC State

Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, has shown promise as a natural polymer for use in 3-D printing of medical implants. Researchers from North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Laser Zentrum Hannover found that the compound could be incorporated into the printing process to make tissue engineering scaffolding and other structures that are finely detailed, biocompatible and apparently nontoxic. The printing technique, known as two-photon polymerization, has previously produced objects that are toxic because of the chemicals involved up until now. Researchers said their finding opens the door to the use of more biocompatible implant materials. The journal Regenerative Medicine published details of their work. Item