AsianScientist (Dec. 9, 2013) – A handheld “bio pen” developed in Australia may someday be used by surgeons to deliver live cells directly to damaged and diseased bone material, accelerating the regeneration of functional bone and cartilage.
Researchers from the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) at the University of Wollongong have developed a prototype of the BioPen, which may give surgeons greater control over where the materials are deposited while also reducing the time the patient is in surgery.
The BioPen works similar to 3D printing methods by delivering cell material inside a biopolymer such as alginate, a seaweed extract, protected by a second, outer layer of gel material. The two layers of gel are combined in the pen head as it is extruded onto the bone surface and as the surgeon “draws” with the ink to fill in the damaged bone section.
A low powered ultra-violet light source is fixed to the device, allowing for the inks to be cured during dispensing and built up layer-by-layer. Following curing, the shell material maintains its form, allowing the surgeon to construct a 3D scaffold in the wound site.
The scaffold provides greater protection and retention of cells and can be surrounded by a polymer core to add structural strength to the surgical site. It can also be seeded with growth factors or other drugs to assist regrowth and recovery.
All components in the implantable material are non-toxic and tuned to biodegrade as the cells begin to populate the injured bone area. The design of the device allows it to be easily transported and the surgeon can operate with ease and precision in the operating theater.
The BioPen prototype has been handed over to clinical partners at St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, led by Professor Peter Choong, who will work on optimizing the cell material for use in clinical trials.
“This type of treatment may be suitable for repairing acutely damaged bone and cartilage, for example from sporting or motor vehicle injuries. Professor Wallace’s research team brings together the science of stem cells and polymer chemistry to help surgeons design and personalize solutions for reconstructing bone and joint defects in real time,” said Professor Choong.
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Source: University of Wollongong; Photo: perpetualplum/Flickr/CC.
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