Resorbink develops biodegradable 3D printing materials for use in bone regeneration – Interview with Stephan Haudum

The Austrian startup Resorbink FlexCo, a spin-off of Johannes Kepler University Linz, is dedicated to developing biodegradable materials for medical applications. Founded in October 2024 by Stephan Haudum, Ian Teasdale, and Oliver Brüggemann, Resorbink is closely connected to the Institute of Polymer Chemistry (ICP) and has its origins in an EU-funded research project called INKPlant. The innovative technology developed during this project, patented by JKU, enables the creation of bioresorbable 3D printing materials particularly suited for fabricating scaffolds for bone defect treatments. In an interview with 3Druck.com, co-founder Stephan Haudum provides insights into the development and future potential of biodegradable 3D printing materials in medical technology.

At the heart of Resorbink’s technology is a special material based on “Amino Acid Phosphoramide (APA)” that mimics the natural structure of bone. Like natural bone, this material consists of phosphorus and amino acids. Phosphorus, a naturally occurring chemical element, forms the central building block to which polymerizable amino acids are dynamically bonded. The unique aspect of this material combination is its gradual decomposition within the body, a process known as hydrolytic degradation. During this breakdown, phosphate and amino acids are released, which can be absorbed and metabolized by the body.

Another strength of this technology is the material’s adaptability: by selecting different amino acids, the material can be tailored to have specific properties—such as firmness or flexibility and rate of degradation in the body. This enables the creation of materials perfectly suited for various medical applications, such as implants designed to dissolve over time within the body.

Resorbink plans to offer a portfolio of high-precision resin formulations for DLP, SLA, and inkjet 3D printing. These materials are especially useful for creating patient-specific implants that can be accurately made using medical imaging. Currently, Resorbink is focused on scaling and standardizing production and is seeking partners in the medical technology and 3D printing industries to further develop the commercial applications of their materials.

Interview with Stephan Haudum

Stephan Haudum, co-founder and CEO of Resorbink, discusses in an interview with 3Druck.com the development of biodegradable materials for 3D printing in medical technology and their unique benefits in treating bone defects. He explains how this innovation enhances healing processes and outlines the challenges and future perspectives in the field of medicine.

How did the idea to develop biodegradable materials for 3D printing in medical technology come about, and what challenges did you face in the early stages?

The Institute of Polymer Chemistry at JKU Linz has long been working on biodegradable materials for medical applications. The idea to develop 3D printable materials for medical implants emerged from participating in the EU Horizon 2020 project INKplant. This project focused on developing personalized multi-material implants, where the ICP was responsible for developing the biodegradable component. Throughout the project, we designed our APA (Amino Acid Phosphoramide) technology from scratch and developed it within the project’s 3-year timeframe.

A major challenge was that it was a completely new development; there was no existing experience or literature to reference. Additionally, the material had to meet numerous requirements: it had to be 3D photo-printable, mechanically stable, yet biodegradable and biocompatible. However, we rose to the challenge and demonstrated within the project that we could produce a functioning material at a lab scale. Since then, we have continued to develop the material and are currently focused on standardization and upscaling.

What unique advantages do the materials you have developed offer in treating bone defects compared to conventional methods?

The gold standard in treating bone defects remains bone grafting from autografts (a patient’s own bone). However, this method has drawbacks: an additional surgery to harvest bone, limited availability of suitable bone material, and pain and complications (up to 20%) at the donor site. Our newly developed biomaterials can help address these issues.

What distinguishes the “Amino Acid Phosphoramide (APA)” technology from other biodegradable materials?

Biopolymers, such as collagen, are not only difficult to produce but are also incompatible with most 3D printing methods. One of the most commonly used synthetic biodegradable materials is polyesters like PLA, PLGA, and PCL. However, these often degrade too slowly and uncontrollably, making them unsuitable for many applications. In contrast, our materials can degrade over a much shorter timeframe. We observed that our materials degrade linearly over time, a process known as “surface degradation.” This means that the material degrades evenly, making room for new cells and tissue growth—unlike polyesters, which remain stable for extended periods before suddenly degrading (bulk degradation). Moreover, our materials degrade into natural amino acids and phosphate, components that can be directly used by cells to build tissue. Additionally, our technology is highly flexible, allowing for precise adjustments to mechanics and degradation rate, which enables applications across various medical fields beyond bone regeneration.

What future perspectives do you see for the use of 3D printing in medicine, and what role might Resorbink play in it?

3D printing holds enormous potential in medicine, as it enables not only efficient and precise manufacturing of implants but also the production of patient-specific products. Resorbink is at the forefront of this development, as we are developing biodegradable, osteoinductive materials that are not only 3D printable but also fully integrate into the body’s natural healing process. Our vision is to continue developing and commercializing this innovative technology to accelerate healing processes, reduce the need for follow-up procedures, and improve patient well-being and healthcare while modernizing the healthcare system.

For more information on Resorbink, click here.