Fig. 1. Overview of the clinical problem of growth plate injury and the use of a 3D printed growth plate mimetic composite as a solution.

a Schematic of uniform bone elongation in a normal proximal tibial growth plate (left), which can be disrupted by a growth plate injury (center), and lead to partial or complete growth arrest due to bony bar formation (right). b Schematic of the implanted 3D printed growth plate mimetic composite (gel + 3D print) after resection of the bony bar. The composite contains a 3D print infilled with the MMP-sensitive, cartilage-mimetic, PEG-based hydrogel (Gel). The hydrogel components are shown on the right.