New patented material could help repair bones

There are many reasons why someone may need to have a bone replaced or reinforced, from car accidents to cancer - and now, researchers at Universidad del Valle (Univalle) have patented a new technique to manufacture a material that promotes bone regeneration where the body is not capable.

The global orthopedic implant market size was valued at US$48 billion in 2022 and is forecast to reach around US$72.08 billion by 2032, according to a market study by Precedence Research.

Professor José Mina, from the Composite Materials Research Group (GMC) attached to the School of Materials Engineering, explained that chitosan (derived from chitin, from crustacean shells) is a material that allows the implant to interact better with the extracellular bone matrix so that the healing process occurs through tissue regeneration and the transplant can be better incorporated into the human body.

"We can develop a biomaterial that can be produced here in Colombia and become technically and economically competitive," Professor Mina said.

Image: Scanning electron microscopy of Chitosan material. Credit: Polymeric Materials Laboratory Archive.

The Research

Carlos Hugo Vidal, in charge of the Laboratory of Metallic Materials of Univalle explained that his undergraduate degree work in Materials Engineering covered a part of this macro research; and additionally stated that in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia, the number of injuries involving bone trauma is very high, mainly originated in traffic accidents and personal injuries. 

"Until today, these large bone injuries have been treated with implants that can be autologous, allogeneic or xenogeneic grafts, some of which require availability of a donor, an additional surgery that would imply cost overruns, donor site morbidity and/or complexity of the procedure," Vidal said.

To find an alternative, Professor José Mina, together with collaborators from three faculties of Univalle, began to investigate the manufacture and characterization of a rigid graft based on chitosan and PLA polylactic acid (a bio-resorbable and compatible polymer).

After elaborating the chitosan-functionalized PLA through a chemical synthesis process, the researchers made a treatment with salts to create pores in the implant structure, allowing spaces in the matrix for vascularization, that is, the construction of a network capable of supplying nutrients to the cells that form within the bone tissue.

"Other products already exist in the market, but there are some characteristics that give added value to the formulation of our biomaterials given that vascularization can be promoted," said Professor Mina. 

In September 2023, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce granted an invention patent titled "Method To Manufacture A Rigid Block Type Graft Composition As Bone Substitute From Polylactic Acid (PLA) Grafted On The Hydroxyl Groups Of Chitosan, And Rigid Block Type Graft Obtained."

Hector Fabio Zuluaga Corrales, Professor Emeritus of the Universidad del Valle and Director of the Southwestern Chapter of the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences and an expert in polymer chemistry, explained that the project has several benefits for the community of southwestern Colombia, including the possibility of remedying injuries that can be associated with bone loss occurring in traumatic accidents, diseases and/or dental injuries.

"The importance of the patent lies in the protection of the intellectual property produced at the Universidad del Valle and the applications mentioned," Professor Zuluaga said.

Carlos Humberto Valencia Llano, professor and Vice-Dean of Research of the Faculty of Health of Univalle helped in developing the project concept and in the performance of biological tests."As a researcher in the clinical area, I am pleased to have contributed to the development of this project because the result will benefit many people and is an important contribution to biomedical research carried out at the Universidad del Valle and in the region," said Professor Valencia. 

Professor Mina indicated that the project is currently in a testing phase under in vivo conditions, using biomodels, with tests on human patients projected in the future.

Read more from the School of Materials Engineering: Implementation of biocompatible coatings could mean safer medical devices Leer más de la Escuela de Ingeniería de Materiales: Implementación de un recubrimiento biocompatible resultaría en dispositivos médicos más seguros

Photo: Preparation of materials for implantation. Credit: José Mina

A transdisciplinary effort

Professors Mina and Valencia explained that transdisciplinarity, i.e., bringing together collaborators from different disciplines and expertise, was key to bringing this project to the point of securing the patent. 

Professor Valencia affirmed that the patent was an important contribution, elaborated by a close collaboration between the Faculties of Health, Engineering and Natural and Exact Sciences of Univalle. 

"The interdisciplinary approach allowed the chemistry area to obtain the materials, the engineering area to develop the method for manufacturing the polymeric block and the health area to carry out the biological evaluations," Professor Valencia said.

Ana Maria Valencia, a graduate of Universidad del Valle's Chemistry program, and currently a doctoral student at Mississippi State University, who was in charge of the extraction and characterization of the chitosan, clarified that the patent strengthens the biomedical area. 

"The success of the project was the multidisciplinary nature, it was not a research focused only on the chemical part (synthesis and characterization of the material) as is customary in chemistry, but it sought to be in constant support with other areas such as materials engineering and biomedical sciences," Ana María Valencia said.

If you are interested in contacting the researcher or learning more about the project, please write to the Communications Office, Faculty of Engineering: comunicaingenieria(at)correounivalle.edu.co.

Cover photo: Professor José Mina of the School of Materials Engineering Credit: Polymeric Materials Laboratory Archive