A new hydrogel may offer a way to regenerate bone—without transplants or implants.

Early research shows the material can support bone growth by creating a scaffold that encourages the body’s own repair processes. It’s designed to integrate with tissue and break down as new bone forms.

While still in early stages, the approach could represent a shift toward less invasive, regenerative options for bone repair.

Researchers have developed a soft laser-printed scaffold made almost entirely of water that bone cells readily colonize.