Antibacterial Copper to Heal Bones, Osteomyelitis

Antibacterial Copper to Heal Bones, Osteomyelitis Antibacterial Copper to Heal Bones, Osteomyelitis Antibacterial Copper to Heal Bones, OsteomyelitisMedical researchers have engineered a new type of composite materie to treat infected bone that promises to prevent bacterial infection and promote healthy bone growth without antibiotics.The bioengineers behind this simplified solution hope that surgeons can use it to treat bone infections, or osteomyelitis. Though considered rare, osteomyelitis is a potentially deadly bacterial disease affecting children and adults. Current treatment involves removing infected bone and replacing it with bone grafts followed by weeks of high-dose antibiotic therapy to prevent reinfection.The solution, from a kollektiv of researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), consists of copper-doped bioactive glass incorporated into scaffolds designed to encourage bone repair after they are packed into areas where the infected tissue has been r emoved.Join ASME and Leading Industry Experts for Offshore Wind Turbine Webinar seriesCopper is known for its antibacterial properties, and the bioglass is designed to slowly release copper over a prolonged period of time.PhD student Emily Ryan and Prof. Fergal OBrien are leading a team developing a new treatment for osteomyelitis and other bone infections. Image Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandUsing copper instead of antibiotics has advantages, said Fergal OBrien, a professor of bioengineering and regenerative medicine atRCSI. He heads the schools Tissue Engineering Research Group and is deputy director of the Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Center. He argues that treating severe osteomyelitis with antibiotics is not reliable in the long term.In this day and age, were worried about antibiotic resistance because theres no new antibiotics coming into the market, he said.Hear more Bioengineering Innovation on ASME TechCast Breakthrough Could Bring New Cancer Treatme ntBut copper is not an easy material with which to work. While it has well-researched antimicrobial properties and encourages blood vessel growth in new bone tissue, high doses can kill surrounding healthy tissue.The key is getting the right dosage. OBrien worked with Aldo R. Boccaccini, who heads the Institute of Biomaterials at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, to calibrate the dose that would kill bacteria without destroying growing cells.Read more on Bioengineering Materials Innovations in Biomaterials Create New Roles for EngineersThe team incorporated copper in bioglass particles, one of the first synthetic materials found to bond seamlessly with bone. The bioglass particles are embedded into collagen scaffolds, which support bone growth. Surgeons can then pack this material into sections of bone that have been ground away, or debrided, to remove the infection.When were able to present the copper in this collagen-bioglass form, were thus able to support bone forma tion, inhibit bacterial growth and recruit blood vessels to the injured site, OBrien said.Over time, the scaffold and bioglass particles break down into easily degradable components, OBrien said. Since the copper ions are released slowly, they do not deluge the area with toxic levels of copper.Copper levels also adjust automatically to bacterial threats If bacteria attack and degrade the scaffold, they get hit by the copper ions.Youre essentially getting an on-demand delivery system, OBrien said. The copper ions are released just when needed the most.Read more on Artificial and 3D Printed Skin Advances for Robots and HumansWhile the copper-doped bioglass-scaffold alone might prove sufficient to treat some infections, clinicians wont take that chance. OBrien expects the material to work in tandem with antibiotics to suppress the infection.John M. OByrne, a professor of orthopedics and trauma at RCSI who has a clinical trauma and orthopedic surgery practice, sees a bright future for t he new material.This research shows great promise in terms of preserving bone, eradicating infection from bone, and also delivering a local method for eradicating the infection, he said. If we can preserve the patients bones and eradicate the infection, we can improve their quality of life and save on patient suffering and on massive healthcare costs.The next stage of research will include completion of pre-clinical testing with a view to move toward its first clinical trials phase.Poornima Apte is a Boston-area freelance writer and editor.Register today for ASMEs Offshore Wind Summit to learn about the latest technologies, opportunities, and supply chain strategies from leaders in the oil, gas and wind energy industries. The Best Stories of the Month How to Make a More Precise Hypodermic Needle Innovations in Soft Robotics Research Rats Play VR Game to Explain How Human Brain WorksWhen were able to present the copper in this collagen-bioglass form, were thus able to support bone f ormation, inhibit bacterial growth and recruit blood vessels to the injured site.Fergal OBrien, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland