A new biomolecular strategy to improve bone regeneration
New additive manufacturing precosses for metal components
December 31, 2019
Micromechanical design to optimise materials for tools
December 31, 2019The regeneration and repair of non-functional tissues is an extremely significant challenge at global scale, due to the increase in life expectancy and prevalence of ageing-related diseases. In the case of bone-joint disorders, it is vital to develop new strategies for regeneration of the bone tissue that reduce the limitations of current treatments, which are mainly based on the use of grafts, often require second surgery and may lead to morbidity of the patient, among other disadvantages. The fact that bone is the second most transplanted tissue after blood, with 2.2 million procedures carried out annually worldwide, shows the relevance of developing new biomaterials in this area. One of the common strategies for improving bone regeneration is the use of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), a growth factor with high osteogenic potential. However, its clinical use is associated with severe complications (formation of ectopic bone, dysphagia, dyspnea and cancer, among others) and it is currently a cause of controversy.
To respond to the difficulties resulting from the clinical use of BMP, as part of the MIMESIS project, the Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering (BBT) research group at the Research Centre for Biomedical Engineering (CREB UPC) has developed new mimetic molecules of BMP. The aim is to obtain new biomaterials with high osteogenic potential and great capacity to regenerate the bone.
The methodology that has been developed can be used to functionalise a large number of medical implants, from dental implants and orthopedic prostheses to hydrogels and polymers. The results obtained at cell level in vitro show that this methodology leads to a highly beneficial response in the cells responsible for forming bone. Currently, studies are being carried out in animals to assess its preclinical potential.
The project is funded by the Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013–2016, as part of the programme Research Challenges: Research, Development and Innovation projects. It will be completed in 2021.
Related Projects
- The research group IMEM-BRT of the UPC leads the TherGel project, which aim is to combine the properties of both materials in a conductive polymer hydrogel that could be used in water evaporation systems, as filtration membranes and as solid-state electrolytes that are active in electrochemical cells of capacitive deionisation of salt water.
- The research group Plastics and Ecological Composites (e-PLASCOM) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the Catalan Plastics Center (CCP), work in a project that aims to design ad hoc natural rubber-based composites, with specific compositions and geometries, to be optimally integrated into both EC and BC technologies at prototype level.
- The research group Eco-friendly Plastics and Composites (e-PLASCOM) at the Universitat Politècnica Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is participating in the European Advanced Engineering and Research of aeroGels for Environment and Life Sciences (AERoGELS) project. This project is designed to bring together the knowledge of academic, industrial and regulatory experts on the research and technology of aerogels at European scale.
- Researchers in the Polymer Materials and Textile Chemistry (POLQUITEX) research group of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) participate in the WAVE project, who aim is to recycle elastomeric waste (such as tyres and scraps from building roofs), for its subsequent reuse and recovery in various industrial sectors (automobile, civil, electrical).
