Now, Ceramic Material can Work as a Bone Substitute

A fragile 'ceramic' material can now work as a bone substitute.

A team of researchers at National Polytechnic Institute (NPI) in France, have found that Hydroxylapatite - medullar component of the bone - when obtained synthetically and 'giving' it some characteristics, could be used as a bone substitute.

Preferable Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis Found in Allogenic Bone Marrow Stem Cells
An inflammatory autoimmune disease, Multiple sclerosis (MS) affecting more than one million people worldwide is caused by an immune reaction to myelin proteins, the proteins that help form the myelin insulating substance around nerves.

"Hydroxylapatite, when obtained synthetically, conserves its properties and could work as a bone substitute because, according to our studies, it doesn't cause toxicity in the human body," said Lucia Téllez Jurado from the laboratory of heavy materials of metallurgic engineer at Superior School of Chemical Engineering and Extractive Industries (ESIQUE).

Hydroxylapatite is a widely studied material, employed as a biomaterial and can be obtained from animal skeletons or synthetically. Another of its applications is as a filter for heavy metals.

The researchers found that Hydroxylapatite obtained synthetically is a fragile 'ceramic' so it would be necessary to add other substances giving them mechanical resistance.

Researchers Discover Hand Bone Of Human Who Lived 1.42 Million Years Ago
A new hand bone from a human ancestor who roamed the earth in East Africa approximately 1.42 million years ago was found by researchers.

They are now looking for a material with optimal properties that could be applied on a large bone like femur or fingers.

"We are interested in obtaining a material that complies with mechanical characteristics so it can be implanted or used as a substitute for a broken bone when no other option is available," said Jurado.

BioPen to Help Doctors �Draw� New Bone and Muscle Developed
Researchers have developed a new pen like device through which doctors can simply ‘draw’ up new bone, skin and muscle on their patients.

"We are going to test several materials, checking their mechanical compositions so it has the required characteristics and works in humans. If someone has a fracture, the technology must be applied without causing further damage," Jurado added.

Source-IANS

John Hopkins Researchers Find Drug Approved to Treat Lung Cancer Can Shrink Tumors in Rare Bone Cancer
A drug approved to treat lung cancer substantially shrank tumors in mice that were caused by a rare form of bone cancer called chordoma reveals John Hopkins researchers.