Bone made of hydrogel
Rice University researchers have developed a new hydrogel framework for bone tissue repair. The uniqueness of this development lies in the fact that the new material is introduced into the body in the form of a liquid, after which it solidifies to a gel-like consistency and subsequently liquefies again for removal.
According to Antonios Mikos, the head of the work, the development of thermosensitive technologies is a new direction of research in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. These technologies make it possible to create biocompatible, temperature-responsive, suitable for modification by chemical crosslinking and biodegradable hydrogels. These qualities make it possible to form bio-frames of complex anatomical shape with minimal surgical interventions.
The hydrogel framework of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) developed by the authors is unique in that its liquid consistency at room temperature immediately turns into gel-like when injected into the body. Moreover, the applied technology of cross-chemical crosslinking ensures the stability of the volume and shape of complex three-dimensional structures formed by the gel.
An injectable hydrogel framework having a liquid consistency at room temperature (left),
a minute after heating to body temperature, it forms a stable gel that does not decrease in volume (right).
The developers believe that such a hydrogel framework enriched with stem cells and growth factors, capable of filling even the most complex defects of bone tissue, will contribute to the formation of new bone tissue at the site of damage. After the formation of new bone tissue, the hydrogel can be returned to a liquid state and removed from the body in a natural way.
In the near future, the researchers plan to analyze the gel's ability to stimulate cell adhesion, as well as intercellular interactions and cell proliferation, which should result in the formation of new bone tissue.
Article by Tiffany N. Vo et al. Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization, and Cytocompatibility of Bioresorbable, Dual-Gelling Injectable Hydrogels is published in the journal Biomacromolecules.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Rice University: Liquid to gel to bone.
19.12.2013