Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) have been studied as viable candidate systems for bone tissue engineering due to their excellent biocompatibility and low temperature characteristics. Ideally, CPCs should provide a freely moldable slurry and should be easily introduced into the defect where it can set within a short period of time at physiological conditions and result in a mechanically stable, porous, and resorbable material. Unfortunately, currently used CPCs have long setting times, slow conversion, and low resorption and poor bone regeneration rates. The newly developed calcium phosphate-based injectable “smart cements” described here overcome those drawbacks while also serving as a vehicle to safely introduce signaling molecules and other biological compounds, making them a viable candidate system for bone regeneration and highly suitable for use in a clinical setting.
Description
This novel injectable bone cement is comprised of calcium phosphate and nanostructured calcium phosphate-based carriers of proteins, cells, plasmid DNA, and drugs. Although there are several patents on bone cements, none have the ability to form under physiological conditions at a neutral pH while also demonstrating the ability to carry DNA, growth factors, cells, and proteins. The smart cements display no cytotoxic effects and the incorporation of macro-porosity, assorted proteins, and growth factors do not alter the characteristics and mechanical properties of the smart cements. These smart cements can be made in bulk as dense cement materials, or alternatively, can be fabricated as porous constructs with controlled porosity. These smart cements can also be generated as injectable pastes that can be delivered into the appropriate site in the clinic for treatment of bone-related traumatic injuries and defects. Additionally, the cements can be 3D printed and customized to meet the patient-specific defect site without exhibiting any loss in the above attributes.
Applications
• Bone tissue engineering
• Delivery of drugs, stem cells, or proteins to critical sites within the body
• Dental and orthopedic applications
Advantages
• No cytotoxic effects
• Can be generated under physiological conditions
• Shorter setting times compared to currently-used apatitic CPCs
• Higher resorption and bone regeneration rates
• Direct incorporation of different proteins and growth factors within the smart cements
• Tunable porosity allows for cellular infiltration
Invention Readiness
In vivo rabbit calvaria and ulna experiments completed
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8357364B2; https://patents.google.com/patent/US8557235B2; https://patents.google.com/patent/US8945538B2; https://patents.google.com/patent/EP2498788A4
