5 hours ago New bone matrix that formed within the implanted nanobone pellets stains red with Picrosirius (left) and has a characteristic pattern under polarised light (right). Credit: Phil Nicholls <\/p>\n
Murdoch University nanotechnology researchers have successfully engineered synthetic materials which encouraged bone formation in sheep. <\/p>\n
The advancement means the successful use of synthetic materials in bone grafts for human patients is a step closer. The material could also have potential future applications in fracture repair and reconstructive surgery. <\/p>\n
Currently the patient's own bone, donated bone or artificial materials are used for bone grafts but limitations with all these options have prompted researchers to investigate how synthetic materials can be enhanced. <\/p>\n
Dr Eddy Poinern and his team from the Murdoch Applied Nanotechnology Research Group worked with powdered forms of the bio ceramic hydroxyapatite (HAP) to form pellets with a sponge-like structure which were then successfully implanted behind the shoulders of four sheep by collaborators from the School of Veterinary and Life Sciences at Murdoch University. <\/p>\n
HAP is already being used in a number of biomedical applications such as bone augmentation in dentistry because of its similarity to the inorganic mineral component of human bone. But treatments of HAP so that it can be successfully used in a bone graft have yet to be developed because of the complexities involved with compatibility and HAP's load bearing limitations. <\/p>\n
Dr Poinern and his team prepared pellets with varying density and porosity using a variety of chemical methods including sintering, ultrasound and microwaves. Four pellets were implanted into muscles in each of the sheep, later demonstrating good bio-compatibility, including mixed cell colonisation after four weeks and even new bone formation 12 weeks after the surgery. <\/p>\n
\"Using synthetic materials in this way is difficult and complicated because they need to be engineered to be porous and to replicate the various physical, chemical and mechanical properties found in natural bone tissue,\" explained Dr Poinern. <\/p>\n
\"They also need to be non-toxic and have a degradation rate which will allow for cells from the host to steadily recolonize the area and permit the formation of blood vessels necessary for the delivery of nutrients to the forming bone tissues. <\/p>\n
\"We already knew that synthetic HAP was a good material to study for possible use in bone-related medicine, but we needed to find out if the pellets we'd engineered were bio-compatible. <\/p>\n
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Nano engineering advances bone-forming material<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 5 hours ago New bone matrix that formed within the implanted nanobone pellets stains red with Picrosirius (left) and has a characteristic pattern under polarised light (right). Credit: Phil Nicholls Murdoch University nanotechnology researchers have successfully engineered synthetic materials which encouraged bone formation in sheep Continue reading