Mineralization of Biocompatible Scaffolds

APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:

Artificial bone implants Dental implants Spinal cord injury repairs Soft-tissue engineering Bioceramics Structural materials ADVANTAGES:

Rapid mineralization Tunable mineralization and crystallinity Improved fracture resistance Higher mineral-hydrogel adhesion strength Better bone-tissue attachment and in-growth

DESCRIPTION:

Carolyn Bertozzi and colleagues at Berkeley Lab have developed a technique to produce bone-like composite materials by promoting high-affinity integration of hydroxyapatite (HA), the main mineral component of natural bone, with poly (2-hydroxethyl methacrylate) or pHEMA hydrogel polymers.

Unlike the bioinert materials currently used in the fabrication of orthopedic implants (metals, ceramics, polymers or a coarse combination of these components), the Berkeley Lab composite displays robust incorporation of osteophilic HA with the hydrogel polymer, hence encouraging tissue attachment and ingrowth. In addition, the polymer-mineral adhesion strength of the new composite is significantly greater than that of existing polymer-HA materials. This improved adhesion strength prevents rapid disintegration of the two components both during surgical handling and upon implantation. The Berkeley Lab technology encourages these functional improvements through controlled integration of the two materials.

Attached files:


Inventor(s): Carolyn Bertozzi

Type of Offer: Licensing



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