- Indian-origin researcher and his team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new implantable scaffold that facilitates rapid formation of a new bone in cases of bone injuries and fractures.
- Using the technique of layer-by-layer assembly, the created a thin, porous scaffold sheet coated with layers of platelet—derived growth factor (PDGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP—2), which are both bone-growth factors.
- When implanted it slowly releases PGDF with a sustained release of BMP, which is crucial as the factors should be released in a scheduled manner. The scaffold is biodegradable and eventually breaks down inside the body.
- It has a great potential to replace the current method of transplanting bone from another part of the patient’s body, a painful process which often doesn’t supply enough bone.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sci-tech-and-agri/novel-tissue-scaffolds-help-body-grow-new-bone/article6336412.ece