Material restores bones and can replace bone marrow transplant

Diseases that compromise the structure of bones, such as osteoporosis and osteomyelitis , and that in some cases require a bone marrow transplant, may have a new ally for treatment.

Russian scientists have developed a material capable of restructuring bones and increasing cell division, helping to repair injuries and maintain tissue structure.

For this, researchers at the National University of Science and Technology in Russia used a material based on polycaprolactone nanofibers.

A biodegradable composition used as an absorbable filler that, when in contact with bone tissue, promotes the formation of a layer of calcium and phosphorus – components present in bones.

How does the material act on human bone?

By the study, this material, when in contact with proteins , minerals and carbon dioxide of the blood, components of the blood plasma, formed around the bone a type of layer with calcium and phosphorus.

As these are the substances naturally present in the main structure of bones, the body promotes tissue reconstruction quickly.

Then the researchers saw that right after the polycaprolactone nanofibers performed this procedure, they disintegrated in the blood and only the new bone tissue remained.

How can the material prevent bone marrow transplants?

Because it has this bone restorative characteristic, the material can serve as a type of bandage for the patient who has suffered damage to the bone structure due to disease.

As it helped to increase the division of cells by up to 3 times, it is also an alternative possibility to bone marrow transplantation – tissue that is inside the bones.

The discovery may decrease the wait for a donor in health systems, since it is necessary that the donor person has some characteristics compatible with the recipient.

Read more: Bone marrow cancer is more common among older people

It is important to have studies like these, as they open up other opportunities for even broader research capable of reducing waiting time in transplant queues.