Mimicking DOUGONG brackets orchestrate regulating inflammation and mechanical stimuli for osteochondral regeneration using 3D printing (1/2026)

Inspired by the Chinese myth of “Nüwa Mending the Sky” (女娲 补天), this cover art transforms ancient symbolism into a vision of regenerative healing. Here, the goddess Nüwa embodies the physicians and engineers who crafted 3D-printed scaffolds to repair osteochondral defects—damaged joints ravaged by osteoarthritis—represented by the “broken sky.” The “molten stones” Nüwa used to rebuild the heavens become a 3D-printed DOUGONG (斗拱) bracket structure made from an akermanite/SrSiO3 composite. The DOUGONG structure—a defining feature of traditional Chinese architectural systems—exhibits remarkable load transfer efficiency for both vertical and horizontal forces, owing to its intricate 3D interlocking network architecture. This unique mechanical property, rooted in millennia of structural wisdom, may facilitate cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, thereby supporting robust tissue integration. These architecturally inspired scaffolds work in concert: they precisely modulate inflammation and mechanical stimuli to orchestrate the regeneration of healthy osteochondral tissue, turning a mythological act of cosmic repair into a tangible promise of restored joint function. Designed by Jialin Guo, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.