Scientists mulling possibility of using nanostructured bioceramics to repair bone tissue

An Iranian researcher from Material and Energy Research Center in association with scientists from Research and Clinical Center for Infertility of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences of Yazd studied repairing damaged bone tissues of rats by using nanostructured bioceramic based on silicate magnesium calcium (merwinite) and compared it to hydroxyapatite commercial powder. Merwinite has attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years due to its higher cellular proliferation and better mechanical properties. Previous studies show that osteoblasts (bone making cells) show better proliferation activity on merwinite than on hydroxyapatite. Hafezi explained the stages fulfilled in the research. “Merwinite was synthesized through sol-gel method in the beginning, and its physical properties were investigated. Then, 24 rats of 3-4 months old with known weight were chosen and classified in three groups of eight. The researchers created holes on their femur. The holes were filled with merwinite powder in one group while hydroxyapatite powder was used to fill the holes for the rats in another group. The third group was chosen as the control group and the holes in femur were not filled at all. Histological studies were carried out after two and 8 weeks on the groups, and the results were compared.” Results showed that ossification and angiogenesis took place in a wider range and faster in merwinite in comparison with other groups. The reason was significant increase in the activity of osteoblasts on nanostructured merwinite in comparison with hydroxyapatite at micrometric scale. Results of the research have been published in details in Ceramics International, vol. 39, November 2012, pp. 4575-4580.