Injectable Biomaterial Treats Bone Diseases

An injectable macro-porous material is being developed for the treatment of degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis, to refill bone cavities, and in stomatology.

Researchers at the biomaterials center of the University of Havana (BIOMAT, Cuba) are developing the injectable calcium-phosphate cement in collaboration with the biomaterials division of the Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña (Spain). The cement is formed when albumen is combined with an alpha-tricalcium phosphate paste, which hydrolyzes to a calcium deficient hydroxyapatite during the setting reaction. The resulting cement is easy to manipulate, possesses fast compression, and has flexible properties similar to other known macro-porous materials. The mineral composition of the compound is very similar to bone and as a result is very useful for tissue engineering, disseminating the cells of the patient in the material for subsequent implantation.

"One of the main difficulties of medicine at present is the considerable increase of the pathologies related to bone problems,” said Dr. Amisel Almirall, Ph.D., the researcher at BIOMAT in charge of the project. "Half the chronic diseases suffered by people over 65 are related to articulation deficiencies; in addition, the number of bone fractures caused by osteoporosis and traffic accidents has doubled in the last ten years.”

One example of a potential use of the cement is in filling bone voids after maxillary cyst removal, preventing loose teeth due to the rapid reconstitution of the bone.


Related Links:
Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña
University of Havana