Nanoctructured calcium phosphate bone cements
Objective
The aim of this cooperation project was the development of novel materials based on calcium phosphate cements as bone substitutes and for bone regeneration. These new materials are to stimulate bone healing and regeneration mechanisms without the use of recombinant growth factors. They are supposed to exploit and support the natural regeneration potential of bone to a greater extent than products that are currently available. As a result the application of these novel materials shall accelerate and ensure reliable healing of bone defects and/ or improve the integration of orthopaedic implants.
Cooperation partners
InnoTERE GmbH (Project Coordinator)
Technische Universität Dresden
Institute of Materials Science
Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden
(Research group Tissue Engineering and Biomineralisation)
Background
Calcium phosphate-based bone substitute materials presently available have been used mostly to repair bone defects caused by bone fractures, rebuild diseased bones (bone cysts and bone tumors) and fill defects accompanying orthopaedic implant revisions. They are almost entirely well-tolerated, but have practically no stimulating effect on the natural regeneration capacity of bone. However, bone stimulation is clinically significant, because critical size defects, in particular, heal only very slowly and unreliably without a stimulating impetus. Under these circumstances, the use of autografts is still very common, since they are believed to possess this stimulating potential. However, this approach requires surgical removal of a bone graft from the patient's own body, thus imposing an additional burden on the patient and resulting in higher health care costs.
Consequently, recent research has focused on developing composite materials that combine bone substitute materials and recombinant bone growth factors, such as e.g. Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) as these are considered to represent equivalent substitutes of autografts. However, the persisting technical and clinical problems (e.g. effective concentrations and potential side effects have not yet been fully evaluated) and the high treatment costs - on the basis of price calculations of producers - hinder the extensive use of these materials in bone surgery.
By contrast, our studies on nano and microstructuring of calcium phosphate cements that have been conducted within this project aim to create biomimetic substrates that serve as optimal binding sites for the body's own signal molecules that actively participate in bone metabolism. These biomimetic substrates are expected to promote the bone healing process and increase the natural regeneration capacity of bone.
Publication
In September 2010 the results have been published to some extend:
Modifications of a calcium phosphate cement with biomolecules - Influence on nanostructure, material, and biological properties.
Vater C, Lode A, Bernhardt A, Reinstorf A, Nies B, Gelinsky M
J Biomed Mater Res A 2010 Sep 15 online first
This project was financed by grants of the Free State of Saxony and the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE)
Funding number: 11157/1741