The faculties of two universities, the Department of Musculoskeletal Science at the University of Southampton and the University of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry, both in the UK, joined forces to develop a polymer implant using stem cells. The research was intended to find ways to extend the time an implant, such a hip replacement joint, can survive. The researchers found that their material promoted effective bone regrowth around an implant and they published their findings in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
“Several of the blend materials were found to be excellent supports for human bone marrow-derived skeletal cells and foetal skeletal cells, with the optimized blend exhibiting in vivo osteogenic potential, ” the authors wrote, “suggesting that these polymer blends could act as suitable matrices for bioengineering of hard tissues”.
The material they used, made from three different plastics, was built into a 3D honeycomb pattern to act as scaffolding for the bone stem cells. Tiny holes in the material permitted blood flow, feeding the stem cells which attached themselves all around the structure to form new bone.
“Fractures and bone loss due to trauma or disease are a significant clinical and socioeconomic problem, ” said Richard Oreffo of the University of Southampton. “This collaboration between chemistry and medicine has identified unique candidate materials that support human bone stem cell growth and allow bone formation.”
In 2010 Paul Wooley of the Centre of Innovation for Biomaterials in Orthopaedic Research regrew bone inside a mammal’s leg using a porous composite material similar to the honeycomb now being used. According to Wooley, bone and blood vessels grew around and through the material in six weeks. It could, he claimed, mean the prevention of countless amputations.
One of my close family members suffers from Bone Cancer due to tumor of the spine that has eaten away most of the bone in the middle of the spinal column. Is the Plastics + stem cell regrowth a viable option/surgery? The patient is about 80 years of age. Thanks for your response! Setlur