Scientists Convert Blood into Bone Repair Materials

According to SaedNews, quoting ISNA, scientists at the School of Pharmacy and Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham have developed a new blood-based biological material that successfully repairs bones, paving the way for personalized regenerative blood products. In the future, these blood products could be used as effective treatments for injuries and diseases.

According to the official website of the University of Nottingham, scientists have used peptide molecules to guide key processes occurring during the natural tissue healing process, creating living materials that enhance tissue repair.

Most tissues in our body have evolved to effectively repair small tears or fractures. This healing process is complex, relying on liquid blood to form a solid reparative hematoma. This is a rich, living microenvironment that includes key cells, macromolecules, and regulatory factors for repair.

This research group created a self-assembly method in which synthetic peptides are mixed with the patient's blood, creating a material that harnesses the key molecules, cells, and mechanisms involved in the natural healing process. This allows for the engineering of repair materials that not only mimic the natural reparative hematoma but also enhance its structural and functional properties.

These materials can be easily assembled, adjusted, and even 3D printed, while maintaining the natural functions of the reparative hematoma, such as natural platelet behavior, growth factor production, and recruitment of key cells for healing. Scientists have demonstrated the ability to successfully repair bone in animal models using the animal's own blood.

Alvaro Mata, a professor of biomedical engineering and biomaterials at the University of Nottingham, said: "For years, scientists have sought artificial methods to recreate the natural reparative environment, which is challenging due to its inherent complexity. In this research, we have taken an approach to work with biology rather than recreate it. This method paves the way for developing repair materials by harnessing and enhancing the mechanisms of the natural healing process."

Dr. Cosimo Ligorio, a researcher on this project, said: "The ability to easily and safely convert individuals' blood into repair products is truly exciting. Blood is practically free and can be easily collected from patients in relatively large volumes. Our goal is to create a method that is simple to access and use in a clinical setting, allowing patients' blood to be quickly and safely converted into rich, accessible, and customizable repair products."

This research was published in the journal Advanced Materials.