Development of a gel that supports bone regeneration

Regenerative medicine is one of the areas that are attracting much attention, with the goal of restoring damaged parts in the body by using a framework for culturing patients' cells. When cells adapt, they gradually replace the support frame until the tissue or bone is fully developed.

Photo: Gizmag

Recently, scientists at Rice University (USA) have taken regeneration medicine further, when creating materials in liquid form but can be transformed into solid when injected into the body .

It is a type of hydrogel, a highly absorbent polymer material with a basic water component. This material has a liquid structure if kept in room temperature but quickly solidifies when introduced into the body (which has a higher temperature).

With such properties, experts believe that if the gel is injected into the body in areas of bone loss (due to trauma or illness), it can help fill the gap and form a framework for bone cells. naturally cling and develop. In particular, by adding cross-linking chemicals, the team said the new gel is capable of dissolving itself according to the progress of cell growth from natural bone.

Experts believe that this method allows them to adjust so that the gel decomposition rate is consistent with the rate of bone growth of different body parts or in each different patient.