Biomaterial that accelerates bone regeneration has been developed

Researchers from the Botucatu Institute of Biosciences (IBB-UNESP) at Sao Paulo State University in Brazil announced that they have developed a unique biomaterial that can regenerate bone tissue to improve various treatments, including bone grafts and dental implants.

Can reduce hospital stay

The aim of the research was to develop a material that could prevent the usual side effects associated with bone tissue-related operations, reduce treatment costs, reduce hospital stays and increase patients’ recovery rates. To achieve these goals, the material must mimic the complexity of bone structure while remaining safe and effective in both clinical trials and applications.

“Our data have produced sufficient evidence for the first time that we may have a new biomimetic material with the potential to regenerate bone tissue withstanding hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the tissue),” said Willian Fernando Zambuzzi, one of the researchers. he said. It is thought that the new material will provide a major improvement on current approaches that require bone tissue.

Today, grafting techniques used for patients with fractures or needing tumor resection often involve using pieces of the patient’s own bone. However, obtaining the autogenous material vital for these procedures requires additional surgery, which carries the risk of infection and leads to longer recovery times.

The new material is called cobalt doped monetite because of the cobalt chloride it contains. Zambuzzi decided to add cobalt chloride to his new invention because cobalt chloride is known to promote hypoxia, causing the body to increase the number of blood vessels to compensate for the lack of oxygen.

The material is safe for humans

The innovative material was reported to be safe for the human body according to cytotoxicity testing based on the primary biological evaluation standard for medical devices (ISO 10993:5). Additionally, the team’s deeper dive using preclinical models, including animal experiments, proved successful in the material’s usefulness in a variety of biomedical applications, including coatings for prosthetics and injectable bone cement.

However, the amount of cobalt was found to play a crucial role in determining the optimum concentration of the material required for future biomedical uses, particularly in the field of bone regeneration. One thing is certain: This breakthrough will shape the field of bone regeneration and offer new possibilities to improve outcomes in orthopedic care.