A Bio-Patch Regrows Bone Inside the Body
Nov 8, 2013 09:23 AM ET
//
by
George
Dvorsky, io9.com
Researchers from the University of Iowa have developed a remarkable
new procedure for regenerating missing or damaged bone. It's called a
"bio patch" -- and it works by sending bone-producing instructions
directly into cells using microscopic particles embedded with DNA.
In experiments, the gene-encoding patch has already regrown
bone fully enough to cover skull wounds in test animals. It has also
stimulated new growth in human bone marrow stromal cells. Eventually,
the patch could be used to repair birth defects involving missing bone
around the head or face. It could also help dentists rebuild bone in
areas which provides a concrete-like foundation for implants.
To create the bio patch, a research team led by Satheesh Elangovan
delivered bone-producing instructions to existing bone cells inside a
living body, which allowed those cell to produce the required proteins
for more bone production. This was accomplished by using a piece of DNA
that encodes for a platelet-derived growth factor called PDGF-B.
Previous research relied on repeated applications from the outside, but
they proved costly, intensive, and more difficult to replicate with any
kind of consistency.
"We delivered the DNA to the cells, so that the cells produce
the protein and that's how the protein is generated to enhance bone
regeneration," explained Aliasger Salem in a
statement.
"If you deliver just the protein, you have keep delivering it with
continuous injections to maintain the dose. With our method, you get
local, sustained expression over a prolonged period of time without
having to give continued doses of protein." Salem is a professor in the
College of Pharmacy and a co-corresponding author on the paper.
While performing the procedure, the researchers made a collagen
scaffold in the actual shape and size of the bone defect. The patch,
which was loaded with synthetically created plasmids and outfitted with
the genetic instructions for building bone did the rest, achieving
complete regeneration that matched the shape of what should have been
there. This was followed by inserting the scaffold onto the missing
area. Four weeks is usually all that it took -- growing 44-times more
bone and soft tissue in the affected areas compared to just the scaffold
alone.
"The delivery mechanism is the scaffold loaded with the
plasmid," Salem says. "When cells migrate into the scaffold, they meet
with the plasmid, they take up the plasmid, and they get the encoding to
start producing PDGF-B, which enhances bone regeneration."
The researchers also note that the delivery system is nonviral,
meaning that the plasmid is not likely to cause an undesired immune
response, and that it's easier to mass produce, which lowers the cost.
Link
Task 1.
Choose the correct answer.
1.Which university has developed a remarkable new procedure ?
a) the University of Iowa b) the University of Nibraksa c) the University of New York
2. What does this procedure do?
a) regenerates muscles b) regenerates missing or damaged bone c) improves circulation of the blood
3.What is the name of this producer ?
a) Bonemaker b) Second chance c) Bio Patch
4. Who is the leader of reseacrh team which did discover Bio Patch?
a) George Dvorsky b) Satheesh Elangovan c) Michael Jones
5. Can the plasmid cause an undesired immune response?
a) Yes b) No c) No information in the text
6. What is the name of platelet-derived growth factor?
a) PDGF-B b)FGDP-B c) PBPD-C
7.
How long will be the regrowthing of new bone?
a) 44 weeks b) 4 weeks c) 4 months
8. With whom do the cells meet in the scaffold?
a) with plasmids b)with bacteriums c) with viruses
