AccScience Publishing / MSAM / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/MSAM026340083
Submit to MSAM
Cite this article
10
Download
94
Views
Related Info Links
Google Scholar
More by Authors Links
Shih-Jung Liu
Journal Browser
Volume | Year
Issue
Search
News and Announcements
View All
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Hybrid resorbable anchors/biomolecule-eluting nanofibers for enhanced pedicle screw fixation

Po-Ju Lai1,2 ,  Chih-Yang Lai1,2 ,  Chien-Yun Yang1 ,  I-Lan Fan1 ,  Ching-Lung Tai1 ,  Shih-Jung Liu1,2*
Show Less
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan , Taiwan
2 Bone and Joint Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan , Taiwan
MSAM, 026340083 https://doi.org/10.36922/MSAM026340083
Received: 18 August 2026 | Revised: 22 September 2026 | Accepted: 29 September 2026 | Published online: 2 November 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Download PDF
XML
Cite
Abstract

Pedicle screw loosening remains a challenge for surgeons and patients. We propose using hybrid resorbable anchors and drug/biomolecule-eluting nanofibers to enhance the bone fixation of pedicle screws. Polylactide (PLA) anchors with various designs were fabricated using additive manufacturing, while simvastatin- and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers were prepared through coaxial electrospinning. The effects of PLA anchors and drug/biomolecule-loaded PLGA nanofibrous membranes on improving the pullout strength of pedicle screws from artificial bones were investigated. The in vitro release characteristics of simvastatin and BMP-2 from the nanofibers were evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while the in vivo elution of simvastatin was assessed in a rabbit model with histological examinations. The results demonstrate that electrospun drug/biomolecule-eluting nanofibers, when wrapped around pedicle screws, enhance the screws’ pullout strength. Additionally, the nanofiber/screw system provides a sustained release of simvastatin and BMP-2 for over 30 days in vitro and 4 weeks in vivo. Histological analysis also confirmed the biocompatibility of nanofibrous anchors. Hybrid resorbable anchors and drug/biomolecule-eluting nanofibers show potential for improving screw fixation and serving as a platform for extended drug delivery.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
Additive manufacturing
Resorbable anchor
Electrospinning
Drug-eluting nanofibers
Screw fixation
Funding
This work was supported in part by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (Contract No. 111-2221-E-182-004-MY3) and the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Contract Nos. CMRPD2M0131 and CMRPD2M0012).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
References
  1. Yuan L, Zhang X, Zeng Y, Chen Z, Li W. Incidence, risk, and outcome of pedicle screw loosening in degenerative lumbar scoliosis patients undergoing long-segment fusion. Global Spine J. 2023;13(4):1064-1071. doi: 10.1177/21925682211017477
  2. Wu Q, Huang J, Cao Y. Risk factors for pedicle screw loosening: a comprehensive review. J Orthop Surg Res. 2025;20(1):914. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06349-z
  3. Şahin ÖF, Uzlu O, Açıkgöz Hİ, et al. Pedicle screw loosening after lumbar spinal stenosis surgery and an analytical review of recurrent loosening: based on revision surgery experience. Med Sci Monit. 2026;32:e951549. doi: 10.12659/MSM.951549
  4. Huang YC, Liu PC, Lin HH, et al. Risk prediction model of pedicle screw loosening within 2 years after decompression and instrumented fusion surgery for degenerative lumbar disease. Spine J. 2025;25(7):1474-1482. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2025.01.033
  5. Yuan H, Liu Y, Dai C, et al. Predictive factors of distal pedicle screw loosening followed posterior corrective surgery for degenerative lumbar scoliosis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025;26(1):283. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-08519-w
  6. Hsieh MK, Li YD, Li YC, Liu MY, Tsai TT, Lai PL, Tai CL. Improved fixation stability for repairing pedicle screw loosening using a modified cement filling technique in porcine vertebrae. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):2739. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-06724-4
  7. Peng J, Guo H, Zhan C, et al. Comparison of pedicle screw fixation with or without cement augmentation for treating single-segment isthmic spondylolisthesis in the osteoporotic spine. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):827. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-27539-x
  8. Wu X, Shi J, Cheng Y, et al. Pedicle screw loosening: the value of radiological imagings and the identification of risk factors assessed by extraction torque during screw removal surgery. J Orthop Surg Res. 2019;14(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s13018-018-1046-0
  9. McKoy BE, An YH. An expandable anchor for fixation in osteoporotic bone. J Orthop Res. 2001;19(4):545-547. doi: 10.1016/S0736-0266(00)00052-8
  10. Massaad E, Rolle M, Hadzipasic H, Kiapour A, Shankar GM, Shin JH. Safety and efficacy of cement augmentation with fenestrated pedicle screws for tumor-related spinal instability. Neurosurg Focus. 2021;50(5):E12. doi: 10.3171/2021.2.FOCUS201121
  11. Barnett E, Fletcher J, Gill HS, Pegg EC, Loukaides EG. Auxetic fixation devices can achieve superior pullout performances compared to standard fixation concepts. Smart Mater Struct. 2024;33(6):065010. doi: 10.1088/1361-665X/ad442d
  12. Lin CK, Jaw FS, Young TH. A novel UHMWPE anchor for improving the pullout resistance of pedicle screws. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2026;14:1741050. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2026.1741050
  13. Chen Z. Non-concrete breakout failure modes of concrete mechanical anchors in tension-a literature review. Constr Build Mater. 2023;366:1301222. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.130222
  14. Lee CH, Hsieh MJ, Roth J, et al. Hybrid core-shell nanofibrous scaffolds/stents delivery angiotensin II receptor blocker to treat diabetic artery disease. ACS Appl Polym Mater. 2022;4(6):4199-4207. doi: 10.1021/acsapm.2c00186
  15. Novakova L, Satinsky D, Solich P. HPLC methods for the determination of simvastatin and atorvastatin. Trends Analyt Chem. 2008;27(4):352-367. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2008.01.013
  16. Hakiem AFA, Mohamed NA, Ali HRH. FTIR spectroscopic study of two isostructural statins: Simvastatin and Lovastatin as authentic and in pharmaceuticals. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2021;261:120045. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.120045
  17. Karolewicz B, Gajda M, Owczarek A, Pluta J, Górniak A. Physicochemical and dissolution studies of simvastatin solid dispersions with Pluronic F127. Pharmazie. 2014;69(8):589-594. doi: 10.1691/ph.2014.3217
  18. Kanishka K, Acherjee B. Revolutionizing manufacturing: a comprehensive overview of additive manufacturing processes, materials, developments, and challenges. J Manuf Process. 2023;107:574-619. doi: 10.1016/j.jmapro.2023.10.024
  19. Ngo TD, Kashani A, Imbalzano G, Nguyen KT, Hui D. Additive manufacturing (3D printing): a review of materials, methods, applications and challenges. Compos B Eng. 2018;143:172-196. doi: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.02.012
  20. Bazilevsky AV, Yarin AL, Megaridis CM. Co-electrospinning of core-shell fibers using a single-nozzle technique. Langmuir. 2007;23(5):2311-2314. doi: 10.1021/la063194q
  21. Khan J, Khan A, Khan MQ, Khan H. Applications of co-axial electrospinning in the biomedical field. Next Mater. 2024;3:100138. doi: 10.1016/j.nxmate.2024.100138
  22. Ehtesabi H, Massah F. Improvement of hydrophilicity and cell attachment of polycaprolactone scaffolds using green synthesized carbon dots. Mater Today Sustain. 2021;13:100075. doi: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2021.100075
  23. Zhou J, Akrami N, Wang H, et al. Enhanced healing of critical-sized bone defects using degradable scaffolds with tailored composition through immunomodulation and angiogenesis. Bioact Mater. 2025;44:371-388. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.10.018
  24. Ali SA, Doherty PJ, Williams DF. Mechanisms of polymer degradation in implantable devices. 2. Poly(DL-lactic acid). J Biomed Mater Res. 1993;27(11):1409-1418. doi: 10.1002/jbm.820271108
  25. Kamaly N, Yameen B, Wu J, Farokhzad OC. Degradable controlled-release polymers and polymeric nanoparticles: mechanisms of controlling drug release. Chem Rev. 2016;116(4):2602-2663. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00346
Share
Back to top
Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing, Electronic ISSN: 2810-9635 Published by AccScience Publishing
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here
Accept