Regrow Bone Using A Bio-Patch

 Who would have thought ten years ago that it would be possible to rebuild missing and damaged bone with a microchip-like patch?  With the rate of technological advancement on a rise, the time has come for electronic health devices to change the future of treatments in the medical field. Experiments performed by researchers at the University of Iowa, have shown successful results in the regrowth of skull wounds in test animals using a newly designed bio patch. Human bone marrow stromal cells also reacted to the bio patch by stimulating new growth. The bio patch works by sending bone-producing instructions directly into the existing bone cells, using microscopic particles embedded with DNA, to allow those cells to produce more of the proteins that aid in bone regeneration. This is made possible by using a fragment of DNA that encodes for a platelet-derived growth factor known as PDGF-B, in which is involved in many cellular processes. Aliasger Salem, a professor in the College of Pharmacy and co-corresponding author on the published article, explains that by delivering the DNA into the cells, that produce the desired protein needed to repair the bone tissue, they can rely on the cells to administer the appropriate amount of protein needed rather than having to constantly deliver the protein in continuous injections.

With the new invention, researchers believe that the patch could be use to repair birth defects of those who were born without bone around their head or face. The field of dentistry can also use the new device to rebuild bone in the gum area to serve as a sturdy foundation for dental implants, enabling those who were not able to get implants due to a shortage of bone in the surrounding area, to meet the criteria.

According to Satheesh Elangovan, an assistant professor in the UI’s College of Dentistry, they were able to create a scaffold in the actual shape and size of the defect site, which is similar to being able to recreate a missing puzzle piece to perfectly fit in the empty spot. Salem elaborates, that by loading the scaffold with synthetically created plasmids, the bone cells (that are already present in the body) meet and take up the plasmid, which then encodes to start producing PDGF-B.  Results have shown that using the bio patch that contained the plasmid grew 44-times more bone and soft tissue than with the scaffold alone. Researchers also added in that the device has a nonviral delivery system, which would mean that the plasmid is not likely to cause an immune response, and it is easier to mass produce, making it a possible commercial item in the future.

Original Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131107103404.htm