AccScience Publishing / MSAM / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/MSAM026340083
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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*
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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/ )
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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.
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Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing, Electronic ISSN: 2810-9635 Published by AccScience Publishing
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