New Grafting Material Made from Sea Urchin Spines
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 11 Apr 2017 |
Image: A new study claims sea urchin spines can be used to form biodegradable bone implants (Photo courtesy of ACS).
Sea urchin spines possess superior material properties that could be used for the production of biodegradable artificial grafts for bone defect repair, claims a new study.
Researchers at the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Science and Technology of China, and other institutions conducted a study to explore the potential applications of sea urchin (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) spines, which have a hierarchical open-cell structure similar to that of human trabecular bone, but also hold superior compressive strength (∼43.4 MPa), and are suitable for machining to a specified shape and size.
Finite element analysis revealed that compressive stress concentrates along the dense growth rings and dissipates through strut structures of the stereoms, indicating a mesostructure that plays an important role in the urchin spines high strength-to-weight ratios. Using a hydrothermal reaction, the researchers converted the spines to biodegradable magnesium-substituted tricalcium phosphate (β-TCMP) scaffolds, while still maintaining the spines' original interconnected, porous structure. The fracture strength of the hydrothermally converted β-TCMP scaffolds was ∼9.3 MPa, comparable to that of human trabecular bone.
Tests conducted on rabbits and beagles showed that bone cells and nutrients could flow through the pores and promote bone formation. Also, the scaffold degraded easily as it was replaced by the new growth. New bone formed along outer surfaces of the β-TCMP scaffolds one month after implantation, and grew into the inner open-cell spaces within three months. Fusion of the beagle lumbar facet joints using a Ti-6Al-4V cage and β-TCMP scaffold showed near complete degradation and replacement by newly formed bone ten months after implantation. The study was published on March 2, 2017, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
Marine calcium carbonate (CaCO3) skeletons have tailored architectures created by nature, which give them structural support and other functions. For example, seashells have dense lamellar structures, while coral, cuttlebone, and sea urchin spines have interconnected porous structures.
Researchers at the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Science and Technology of China, and other institutions conducted a study to explore the potential applications of sea urchin (Heterocentrotus mammillatus) spines, which have a hierarchical open-cell structure similar to that of human trabecular bone, but also hold superior compressive strength (∼43.4 MPa), and are suitable for machining to a specified shape and size.
Finite element analysis revealed that compressive stress concentrates along the dense growth rings and dissipates through strut structures of the stereoms, indicating a mesostructure that plays an important role in the urchin spines high strength-to-weight ratios. Using a hydrothermal reaction, the researchers converted the spines to biodegradable magnesium-substituted tricalcium phosphate (β-TCMP) scaffolds, while still maintaining the spines' original interconnected, porous structure. The fracture strength of the hydrothermally converted β-TCMP scaffolds was ∼9.3 MPa, comparable to that of human trabecular bone.
Tests conducted on rabbits and beagles showed that bone cells and nutrients could flow through the pores and promote bone formation. Also, the scaffold degraded easily as it was replaced by the new growth. New bone formed along outer surfaces of the β-TCMP scaffolds one month after implantation, and grew into the inner open-cell spaces within three months. Fusion of the beagle lumbar facet joints using a Ti-6Al-4V cage and β-TCMP scaffold showed near complete degradation and replacement by newly formed bone ten months after implantation. The study was published on March 2, 2017, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
Marine calcium carbonate (CaCO3) skeletons have tailored architectures created by nature, which give them structural support and other functions. For example, seashells have dense lamellar structures, while coral, cuttlebone, and sea urchin spines have interconnected porous structures.
Latest Surgical Techniques News
- Porous Gel Sponge Facilitates Rapid Hemostasis and Wound Healing
- Novel Rigid Endoscope System Enables Deep Tissue Imaging During Surgery
- Robotic Nerve ‘Cuffs’ Could Treat Various Neurological Conditions
- Flexible Microdisplay Visualizes Brain Activity in Real-Time To Guide Neurosurgeons
- Next-Gen Computer Assisted Vacuum Thrombectomy Technology Rapidly Removes Blood Clots
- Hydrogel-Based Miniaturized Electric Generators to Power Biomedical Devices
- Custom 3D-Printed Orthopedic Implants Transform Joint Replacement Surgery
- Wearable Technology Monitors and Analyzes Surgeons' Posture during Long Surgical Procedures
- Cutting-Edge Imaging Platform Detects Residual Breast Cancer Missed During Lumpectomy Surgery
- Computational Models Predict Heart Valve Leakage in Children
- Breakthrough Device Enables Clear and Real-Time Visual Guidance for Effective Cardiovascular Interventions
- World’s First Microscopic Probe to Revolutionize Early Cancer Diagnosis
- World’s Smallest Implantable Brain Stimulator Demonstrated in Human Patient
- Robotically Assisted Lung Transplants Could Soon Become a Reality
- AI to Provide Heart Transplant Surgeons with New Decision-Making Data
- New Surgical Tool Empowers Precision and Confidence in Operating Room