Fig. 1.

Schematic of the use of the in vivo bioreactor strategy for reconstruction in a sheep model. PBSMs were fabricated, and bioreactors were 3D printed to the shape of the mandibular defect. At week 0, a defect was made in the mandible and four bioreactors were implanted against the periosteum of the rib. The mandibular defect space was preserved by insertion of the PBSM. At week 9, bioreactors were harvested for analysis or for use as vascularized free flaps in the reconstruction of the mandible. At week 21, the mandibles were harvested to analyze the success of the strategy for mandibular reconstruction.