New biomaterial for bone tissue regeneration

Hard tissue injuries, especially bone injuries, are very difficult to treat due to their special biological and functional characteristics. Most of the biomaterials currently available for the treatment of bone injuries have a poor biocompatibility and functionality in vivo and to date, the treatments and materials used in severe injuries to human bone result in very slow biointegration in the bone and low success rates. Therefore, the search for new highly biocompatible materials for use in the repair of bone defects is a priority in the field of trauma medicine research. Researchers from a Spanish have developed a process for obtaining and using a new biomaterial employing for the first time dermal ossicles from Sea cucumbers (Holothuria echinoderm). These calcified microstructures are synthesized by one or more cells of the animal, which adhere closely to the surface of the ossicle. This makes the surface of the ossicles potentially highly biocompatible, which supports its clinical use as an inducing agent for bone regeneration. The results obtained from the ex vivo and in vivo biocompatibility and efficacy studies have confirmed the proper biointegration process of the biomaterial, with the absence of signs of necrosis, tumor, infection, hemorrhage or rejection. Furthermore, greater bone repair and regeneration have been demonstrated in bone defects treated with holothurian ossicles. The university is looking for partners from the pharma / health industry interested in licensing this patented technology.