‘Bone Bandage’ to heal cracked bones

A piezoelectric material to promote bone growth aims to combat the high cost of existing bone healing methods.

Previous studies on piezoelectric scaffolds confirm the effects of piezoelectricity in promoting bone regeneration and improving bone fusion in various polymer-based materials, but were limited in simulating the complex cellular environment required for optimal bone tissue regeneration.

This biomimetic scaffold generates electrical signals when pressure is applied by using the osteogenic ability of hydroxyapatite (HAp) fused with a polymer film. HAp is a basic calcium phosphate material found in bones and teeth.

The material has been developed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in collaboration with Chonnam National University, both in South Korea.

The flexible and free-standing scaffold demonstrated its potential for promoting bone regeneration through in vitro and in vivo experiments in rats.