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▲ Schematic diagram of implantation of a biomimetic scaffold containing zinc oxide nanoparticles into an osteoporotic rat skull defect model (Picture/data provided by Korea Research Foundation) © Patent News |
The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) announced that Professor Han Dong-geun (Chae University of Science and Technology) and his research team developed a biomimetic scaffold incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles to induce porous bone tissue regeneration.
In order for damaged bone tissue to regenerate, it needs a support that maintains its structure for a certain period of time and helps cell growth and differentiation.
However, existing biodegradable polymer scaffolds induce an inflammatory response following transplantation, so it was urgent to develop a technology that can suppress it.
In addition, there is an urgent need to develop a strategy to increase the bioactivity of scaffolds for optimizing tissue regeneration and to improve cytocompatibility and function.
Accordingly, the research team set up a strategy to improve tissue regeneration of damaged bone tissue by introducing zinc oxide nanoparticles that help blood vessels and bone differentiation in addition to the previously developed biomimetic scaffold.
The scaffold used zinc oxide nanoparticles to induce the release of nitric oxide, which plays an important role in angiogenesis, and maximized osteoporotic bone regeneration by binding alendronate, the first-line osteoporosis treatment, and bone morphogenetic protein BMP2 to the surface of the nanoparticles. did.
In addition, inorganic component extracellular matrix extracted from calf bone and organic component extracellular matrix extracted through demineralization were mixed in a certain ratio to make the actual bone tissue environment and scaffold similar, and magnesium hydroxide was added to reduce polymer degradation products. side effects were minimized.
The research team implanted the developed biomimetic scaffold following creating a 4 mm defect in the skull of a mouse that had induced osteoporosis.
After 8 weeks of the experiment, it was found that the volume of the newly formed bone tissue increased more than 7 times compared to the existing scaffold. Expression of osteoporotic factors and angiogenesis were also restored to levels similar to those of normal mice.
Regarding the results of this study, Professor Dong-geun Han said, “The developed scaffold has proven that it can overcome the harsh osteoporotic environment and promote bone regeneration. It seems possible,” he said.
The results of this research were published on December 29 in the international journal ‘Advanced Science’.
