How coral could revolutionize bone repair surgery

By StudyFinds

In a breakthrough that reads like science fiction but is firmly grounded in medical science, researchers at Swansea University have created an innovative bone-healing material that promotes rapid healing and naturally dissolves in the body once its job is done. This material could potentially transform how we treat serious bone injuries.

Bone defects, whether caused by traumatic injuries, tumors, or stubborn non-healing wounds, represent one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Currently, surgeons typically rely on two main options to repair significant bone damage: they either harvest bone from another part of the patient’s body (autograft) or use donated bone tissue (allograft). Both approaches come with significant drawbacks, including limited availability, potential infection risks, and ethical concerns about tissue donation.

A Novel Solution

Led by Dr. Zhidao Xia from Swansea University Medical School, the research team developed a synthetic material called hydroxyapatite/aragonite (HAA) using advanced 3D-printing technology. This innovative biomaterial integrates seamlessly with human bone tissue.

“Our invention bridges the gap between synthetic substitutes and donor bone,” Dr. Xia says in a statement. “We’ve shown that it’s possible to create a material that is safe, effective, and scalable to meet global demand. This could end the reliance on donor bone and tackle the ethical and supply issues in bone grafting.”

The new material offers several significant advantages:

• It promotes new bone growth in just 2-4 weeks
• It naturally degrades as new bone forms, with studies showing significant degradation by 6 months
• It can be manufactured through standardized processes, potentially offering a more sustainable alternative to donor bone

Faster, Gentler Testing Method

To evaluate their creation, the research team developed an innovative testing approach that dramatically reduces both time and animal suffering in preclinical studies. Instead of creating large bone defects, they placed small amounts of the material between the shin bone and muscle in mice, taking advantage of the body’s natural bone-forming cells in that region.

The results were remarkable. Within just two weeks, the test sites showed 4-8 times more new bone formation compared to control groups. Even more impressively, by four weeks, the new bone had developed a sophisticated structure, including a new layer of strong cortical bone – the dense outer layer that gives bones their strength and stability.

To ensure these promising results weren’t limited to small animals, the team also tested their material in larger animals whose bone structure more closely resembles humans. In both rats and minipigs, the material successfully promoted bone regeneration while gradually dissolving as new bone formed – exactly the performance profile doctors want to see in a bone-healing material.

The Future of Bone Healing

Many synthetic bone graft substitutes currently available face challenges with dissolution time, integration with existing bone, or inflammatory responses. The new HAA material appears to address these limitations through its unique composition and structure that more closely mimics natural bone.

The Swansea University team is now seeking partnerships with companies and healthcare organizations to bring this technology to patients worldwide. Given the global need for better bone healing solutions, this innovation could potentially reduce healthcare costs and create new opportunities in the biomedical industry.

As our population ages and the demand for orthopedic treatments grows, advances like this HAA material may help ensure more patients have access to effective bone healing treatments without relying on limited donor tissue supplies. Who would have thought that the same structures supporting marine life in our oceans could one day support healing in our bodies? It seems that when it comes to medical breakthroughs, we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of nature’s wisdom.

Source: StudyFinds

StudyFinds sets out to find new research that speaks to mass audiences — without all the scientific jargon. The stories we publish are digestible, summarized versions of research that are intended to inform the reader as well as stir civil, educated debate. StudyFinds Staff articles are AI assisted, but always thoroughly reviewed and edited by a Study Finds staff member. Read our AI Policy for more information.

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Source: https://naturalblaze.com/2024/12/how-coral-could-revolutionize-bone-repair-surgery.html