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A Composite Magnesium/Polymer Scaffold to Buffer pH Changes and Enhance Tissue Regeneration

Detailed Technology Description

None

*Abstract

Each year, over 6.3 million bone fractures occur in the US alone with an annual medical cost of $14 billion. Often times, fixation alone is insufficient to regenerate large bone defects and non-unions. Treatment of these injuries requires bone grafts or use of recombinant growth factor containing scaffolds that have drawbacks and high costs. Recent work has shown magnesium (Mg) alloys to be osteoconductive, supporting their use as a material for promoting bone regeneration. A large body of literature exists on biocompatible and degradable polymer scaffolds for bone regeneration; however, these polymer scaffolds have acidic degradation by-products, low mechanical strength and lack the osteoconductivity of Mg.Investigators at the University of Pittsburgh have developed technology that involves the addition of Mg particles to existing FDA-approved polymers to create a porous scaffold for bone regeneration and drug delivery. Characterization of these scaffolds have shown them to be capable of harnessing magnesiumΓÇÖs osteoconductive properties while overcoming the limitations of currently available polymers. Inclusion of Mg into these scaffolds also buffers the acidic by-products of PLGA degradation which has extensive applications for improving drug delivery.

*Principal Investigator

Name: Andrew Brown

Department: Dent Med-Periodontics/Preventive Dentistry

Name: Charles Sfeir

Department: Dent Med-Periodontics/Preventive Dentistry

Country/Region

USA