Biocompatible and Bioactive Bone Substitute Material

<strong>Background</strong><br>

Bone medicine and tissue engineering is becoming increasingly important in the ageing modern society. Up to 55% of over fifty year olds develop osteo-porosis or the pre-osteoporosis syndrome osteopenia. In some cases a bone replacement is required. The same applies to patients with acute and chronic osteomyelitis, both of which remain difficult to treat. <br><br> Major difficulties in bone medicine are the limited availability of autologous bone tissue for transplantation and the risk of rejection and disease transmission in the use of allografts. <br><br> <strong>Technology</strong><br> The present invention provides a novel method for the production of a bio-compatible and bioactive bone substitute material, which is taking advantage of the foaming behavior of polymers contacted with a supercritical gas (CO2). This method allows for the in situ chemical synthesis of relevant inorganic compounds inside a polymeric matrix (e.g. PLGA or PCL) with a very adaptable composition and distribution of bioactive cations (calcium and strontium) within the bone substitute material. Furthermore, strontium acts as so called dual action bone agent – stimulating bone growth, while simultaneously inhibiting biological bone resorption processes.<br><br> This characteristic is expected to enable a much improved bone tissue growth in the synthetic matrix.<br><br> <strong>Benefits</strong> <ul> <li>Improved bone tissue growth in the synthetic matrix</li> <li>Better control of desired granularity </li> <li>More even distribution of the bioactive components in the bone sub-stitute material</li> <li>Dual action of strontium: bone growth stimulation and resorption inhibition.</li> </ul> <p><strong>IP Rights</strong><br> US patent application filed (11/2010)<br> PCT application filed (10/2011) <br> <br> <strong>Patent Owner</strong><br> Technische Universität Berlin

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