Reinforcing The Body
Author PHoF Historical Committee;
Lead Researcher: Maureen Steinwall
Featured Hall of Fame Member: Cato Laurencin
For most of human history, when people suffered injuries to bones, joints, or ligaments, medicine had very limited options. Surgeons relied on natural materials—bone grafts from the patient or donors, metal plates and screws, or simple sutures made from biological fibers. These approaches helped stabilize injuries, but they did not truly regenerate tissue. Healing was slow, outcomes were uncertain, and many patients lived with lasting pain or loss of mobility. Society needed ways not just to repair the body, but to help it rebuild itself.
The Need for Regenerative Solutions
Natural and traditional materials could not fully meet these needs. Bone grafts were scarce and risky. Metals were strong but stiff and foreign to the body. Natural tissues could not be precisely shaped or tailored to how the body heals. As people lived longer, stayed more active, and expected better outcomes from medicine, it became clear that existing solutions were not enough. Society needed materials that could guide healing, interact safely with the body, and restore function rather than simply hold things in place.
This is where plastics—and the work of Dr. Cato Laurencin—changed everything. Grounded in engineering and materials science, Dr. Laurencin pioneered the use of polymers and nanotechnology to help the body regrow bones, ligaments, and soft tissue. Instead of forcing the body to adapt to rigid materials, his engineered plastic systems worked with biological processes.
Engineering the Body’s Natural Healing Process
By using polymers designed at the molecular and nanoscale level, Dr. Laurencin created scaffolds that encouraged cells to grow and form new tissue. His 2002 paper, which applied nanotechnology principles to tissue regeneration, helped launch an entire field.
Plastic-based medical devices and biologics inspired by his work are now widely used, improving mobility and quality of life for millions of patients. His research also spurred the development of new industries that use polymer–ceramic materials for advanced medical applications.
Innovation That Serves Humanity
Dr. Laurencin’s work shows plastics at their best: thoughtfully designed, deeply scientific, and focused on human well-being. His discoveries did more than create new products; they created new fields of research and new hope for patients worldwide. Honors from the National Academies and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation reflect the impact of this work. Through plastics guided by purpose, science, and care, medicine now helps the body heal itself—and that is innovation that truly serves humanity
