Each year, there are approximately 2.2 million bone-grafting procedures performed worldwide, with the standard of care being autografting, which involves using the patient’s own bone for procedures such as tooth implantation and reconstructing parts of the mouth, face, and skull. However, autografting has drawbacks that include the need for additional surgery, longer recovery time, complication risks, and limited availability of bone. Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry have been working on developing a better bone graft in the lab to address these issues.
The research team has already created a technology that produces bone scaffolds with collagen-like nanostructures, micrometer-sized pores, and natural shapes. They have recently made an exciting improvement that enhances bone regeneration by improving cell-matrix interactions. This development is particularly beneficial for patients requiring repairs involving larger amounts of bone. The collaboration between the Ma Lab and Franceschi Lab has resulted in the creation of peptide-containing copolymers, nanofiber, and implantable and injectable 3D scaffolds for bone and tissue regeneration, with the team applying for patents both in the U.S. and internationally.
The new approach developed by the researchers eliminates the need for exogenous cells, which could complicate therapies by triggering an immune response. With the special peptides on the nanofibers, the new technique can regenerate about eight times more bone than a scaffold without these peptides. As more than 2 million bone graft procedures are performed globally each year, with 500,000 of them in the U.S., amounting to $5 billion in costs, the researchers believe their new approach can revolutionize bone graft procedures and bring many benefits to patients.
The team’s new grafting procedure aims to replace other approaches such as allografting, which uses donor tissue, and xenografting, which uses animal tissue. These methods can come with risks such as infection and a lack of availability. The new biodegradable polymer templates with peptides on nanofibers act as keys to unlock the bone regeneration potential from the recipient’s own cells, leading to the regeneration of pre-designed 3D bone tissue. Once the regeneration is complete, the materials will degrade and disappear without causing potential long-term complications.
The researchers have described the science behind the new technique in a study published in Bioactive Materials, highlighting the many benefits of their innovative approach. By utilizing technology that can transform bone graft procedures, the team believes they can provide a reliable source of materials for bone regeneration, making procedures more predictable and improving outcomes for patients. The advancements made by the researchers could potentially benefit the millions of people who require bone graft procedures every year, offering a safer, more effective, and more efficient option for patients in need of bone regeneration treatments.