New material developed to repair bone defects

Pekin: Using near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, Chinese researchers have developed a biomaterial that can accelerate bone healing. Although heat therapy is traditionally used to treat bone regeneration, it has been shown to be ineffective at delivering the appropriate amount of heat to the appropriate part of the patient's body and causing side effects such as surface burns. On the other hand, NIR light is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. Due to its higher transmittance across biological tissues, it has been used as a photothermal therapy to release heat.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the City University of Hong Kong have developed an implantable biocomposite based on black phosphorus nanomaterial and a chemical compound of tissue engineering widely used to repair bone defects and promote the growth of a new bone, Xinhua reported Saturday.

Phosphorus is one of the essential elements constituting about 1% of the total weight of the human body. With the black phosphor nanomaterial, the composite showed a highly efficient photothermal response. Even when the composite is covered with a tissue barrier with a maximum thickness of 7 mm, it can further increase the temperature under irradiation with NIR light.

In experiments with rats, researchers found that the most effective target temperature for the NIR light trigger is between 39.5 and 40.5 ° C, which is only about 3 to 5 degrees above body temperature. normal. The results of the study were published in the journal Biomaterials.

According to lead author Tong Liping, the composite has great clinical potential. It is biodegradable and can produce non-toxic finished products such as water and carbon dioxide, which can also serve as essential ingredients for bones.