Bioengineered bones for maxillofacial surgery

A facial bone with an ideal anatomical structure has been grown

Yulia Vorobyova, Vesti

Restoration of damaged bone structures after severe injuries or accidents is very difficult. This is far from the most pleasant, lengthy and also expensive process. But now a new technology will help to replace the bone or its area, as well as accelerate healing.

A group of scientists led by Professor Gordana Vunjak-Novakovich from Columbia University managed to grow a full-fledged bone in the laboratory, which repeated the original anatomical structure of the "progenitor".

In the course of the work, the specialists used pig fat tissue, as well as bone tissue taken from cows.

Initially, 14 pigs had a 6-centimeter part of the jaw bone removed (the one that takes on all the stress when chewing).

To replace this part, a skeleton was created from the bone of the calf of a cow (all living cells were removed from it, leaving only a protein matrix). Further, this porous blank was given the desired shape using a computer, 3D modeling and a laser - just as a sculptor grinds his masterpieces with jewelry precision.

Then, specialists isolated mesenchymal stem cells from pre-taken adipose tissue. The latter are known for their ability to differentiate into osteoblasts (bone tissue cells) and chondrocytes (cartilage cells).

However, simply covering the "frame" with them was not enough. According to the authors of the current work, in this case it would have worked like a coat, just put on top – stem cells would not have penetrated into the structure. Therefore, scientists had to make incisions in order for the cells to penetrate inside. Then, within three weeks, the cells took root in this incubator, filling the frame, gradually the bone tissue began to grow.

Of the fourteen pigs selected for the experiment, six received implants with their own "engrafted" tissues, six more were transplanted bones "in a coat" – just covered with cells, the remaining two individuals were left with "clean" bones so that they could follow the independent healing of their jaw for comparison.

The animals were monitored for six months, and the results were promising. The jaw bone was restored in all three groups, while the process took place more qualitatively in the first group.

The jaw bones have also been tested for mechanical strength – a test of their basic function, and the transplanted parts have withstood the same stress as native natural pig bones.

It is also noted that in the second group, the bones began to decrease after a while, and there was no growth of bone tissue – degradation began even before the bone finally formed and took root.

As emphasized in the press release of the University (Face of the Future), facial bones are a particularly difficult part of the skeleton when it comes to reconstruction. Maximum precision is required here so that all the most subtle features match the original. At the same time, they must be strong enough. So, in the case of the jaw bone, it is important to completely preserve the chewing function.

The authors of the article published in the journal Science Translational Medicine (Bhumiratana et al., Tissue-engineered autologous grafts for facial bone reconstruction) note that in the future – after all clinical trials and approval from regulatory organizations – the technique can be used not only to restore lost or damaged bones, but also to eliminate with its help, birth defects.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  20.06.2016