Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc.Sep 27 2024
A group of researchers from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry are making progress in their efforts to create a better bone graft in the lab, despite autografting's disadvantages, which include the need for additional surgery, a longer recovery period, complication risks, and the availability of larger amounts of bone. The study was published in the journal Bioactive Materials.
Graphical abstract. Image Credit: Bioactive Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.08.017
With autografting—using the patient's bone for tooth implantation and to repair and reconstruct portions of the mouth, face, and skull—being the gold standard of care, approximately 2.2 million bone-grafting procedures are carried out annually worldwide.
Peter Ma, a Professor of Dentistry, stated that after developing a technology capable of producing bone scaffolds with collagen-like nanostructures, micrometer-sized pores, and natural shapes, researchers have now made an "exciting improvement." This advancement enhances bone regeneration by improving cell-matrix interactions.
The most recent finding, which is particularly helpful for patients requiring larger-scale bone repairs, resulted from a partnership between the Ma Lab and the Franceschi Lab. The group submitted applications for U.S. and foreign patents on peptide-containing copolymers, nanofiber, implantable and injectable three-dimensional scaffolds for bone, and other potentially useful tissue regeneration technologies.
Having a predictable source of materials to regenerate the bone means much more reliable procedures. What is most important is that we can regenerate tissues without introducing exogenous cells, which would potentially complicate the therapies by triggering immune response. The exciting outcome is that our new approach can regenerate about eight times more bone than a scaffold without the special peptides on nanofibers.
Peter Ma, Professor, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan
According to the researchers, out of the over 2 million bone graft procedures performed worldwide, 500,000 are carried out in the US and cost roughly $5 billion.
The team's novel grafting technique would take the place of autografting as well as two other methods: xenografting, which uses animal tissue, and allografting, which uses donor tissue. Risks like infection and unavailability can accompany both.
According to Ma and colleagues, there are numerous advantages to the new method.
What we invented are biodegradable polymer templates that contain peptides on nanofibers, acting like keys to open new gates to liberate the locked bone regeneration potential from the recipient's own cells. After the regeneration of pre-designed 3D bone tissue, the materials will degrade and disappear without potential long-term complications.
Peter Ma, Professor, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan
Ma concluded, “We are very excited about the discoveries we've made. And we believe what we have created can transform bone grafts for the millions of people who require them.”
Study co-authors include: Tongqing Zhou, Rafael Cavalcante, Chunxi Ge, and Renny Franceschi, all of U-M's School of Dentistry.
Journal Reference:
Zhou, T., et al. (2024) Synthetic helical peptides on nanofibers to activate cell-surface receptors and synergistically enhance critical-sized bone defect regeneration. Bioactive Materials. doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.08.017