Green chemistry for the restoration of bones and joints
Research in the field of creating artificial carriers of cells for bone restoration will make it possible to do without artificial materials, donor bones or the bones of the patient himself for transplantation. The main difficulty in replacing bone material with synthetic is the need to develop a polymer containing a large number of cavities. Such a spongy structure would allow drugs or proteins to be encapsulated in a carrier polymer.
Scientists from the UK have demonstrated that a biodegradable polymer obtained using "green chemistry" methods can be used to repair damaged or destroyed bones and joints. (The term "green chemistry" refers to the development of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the formation and use of hazardous substances.)
A group of researchers led by Steve Howdle from the University of Nottingham was able to solve the problem of polymer structure by obtaining it using supercritical carbon dioxide.
As a basis, they used polylactate, a polymer of lactic acid. The addition of a supercritical liquid obtained from carbon dioxide at high pressure promotes the transition of the polymer into a viscous-fluid state and allows it to be mixed with protein at room temperature. When the pressure decreases, carbon dioxide gas foams the mixture, forming a porous matrix. It was filled with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), after which it was "seeded" with stem cells isolated from bone marrow.
The figure shows an enlarged image of the hip joints of rats four weeks after removing their own joints and inserting only a matrix (left) and a matrix containing growth factor and bone marrow cells (right) in their place. It's just that the polylactate has dissolved without a trace, and in the right picture the joint looks like new.
The researchers believe that the results of clinical trials of the new technique on humans can be obtained in 5 years.
Source: Biomaterials, 2008, DOI:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2007.12.031
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08.02.2008