Artificial Tissue Matrices for Bone Repair

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) by Mo-Sci Corporation in collaboration with the Indiana University School of Dentistry (IU) and the Missouri University of Science & Technology (Missouri S & T) proposes to use bioactive glass bone scaffolds for bone repair. The objective is to develop a completely artificial bone substitute material that mimics human bone and can replace long bones, facial bones and skull bones. The new bioactive glass scaffolds are biodegradable and biocompatible and are synergistic with the natural bone tissue regeneration process. The scaffolds are manufactured by selective laser sintering (SLS), to mimic the structure and mechanical properties of normal healthy trabecular bone tissue, and with good capability for vascularization. The bioactive glass scaffolds will be tested if can function as carrier for Bone Morphogenic Protein-2 (BMP-2) and induce bone healing in small animals in Phase I. Mo-Sci Corp. will develop the SLS scaffolds as Intellectual Property, then work with the American Medical Association and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to gain the necessary approvals to begin making the SLS bone scaffolds available to greater medical community.