Project
To prepare an innovative bone cement which can be used as an adhesive to repair bone, or as a pre-set porous scaffold-like bone graft substitute to promote bone tissue regeneration.
Partners
Delivery
Regener8 has been working with its strategic partner, the Medical Technologies IKC to support the development of novel regenerative therapies and encourage greater collaboration between universities and industry through the N8 Proof of Concept awards.
Launched in 2012, the awards provided exclusive funding for regenerative medicine projects involving academics from the N8 universities and Regener8 industry members. The awards were aimed at accelerating the translation of innovative regenerative therapies that demonstate significant commercial potential in areas where there is currently unmet clinical need.
Impact
Glass-ionomer bone cements currently used in middle ear surgery contain aluminium ions, which are associated with local bone tissue mineralisation defects and neurotoxicity. This limits their clinical application.
There is therefore real clinical need for a non-aluminium glass-ionomer cement that can be used in a wider range of surgical operations, something that researchers have been seeking for over 20 years.
A new glass composition has been identified by Professor Paul Hatton, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield and team, which does not contain aluminium, is more bio-compatible than previous compositions and is capable of forming cements that stimulate bone tissue regeneration and healing in the patient.
The new cement is composed of a novel bio-reactive glass and long-chain polymeric acid.
Success
The new technology could be used very soon to treat a number of middle ear conditions such as ossicular chain repair and the fixation of medical devices. It could also clinicians a superior biomaterials for use as a bone graft substitute in w wider variety of settings including craniofacial, orthopaedic, dental and spinal surgery.