NOVEL SCAFFOLD TO GUIDE BONE REGROWTH

- by Lo Tien Yen

A search for the ideal scaffold that can form a matrix congenial to the regrowth of bones has led to an award-winning project for NUS team comprising Dr Victor Fan, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Dr Cao Tong, Faculty of Dentistry; and Rapid-Tech Pte Ltd. Their project In-Vitro, In Vivo and Clinical trial of Bioscaffold for Bone Reconstruction and Implants won The Enterprise Challenge (TEC) 2005’s Enterprising Agency Award and Innovator Award presented by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The team invented a bioscaffold made of a polymer which is able to biodegrade in the body within six months leaving no toxic effects and yet retaining the necessary strength and shape to allow bone regeneration in the crucial first few months of implantation.

Existing implants and reconstructive materials have been made from titanium and other materials containing hydroxyapatite (a calcium and phosphate composite) which may remain in the body for a lifetime. These materials may cause infection as well as inflammation, said
Dr Cao.

BIOSCAFFOLD DUO: Dr Cao Tong (left) and Dr Victor Fan.

“For a scaffold to be clinically applicable, the manufacturing process has to be novel enough to be able to vary the pore size to promote bony ingrowth and yet retain the necessary configuration, shape and strength for clinical use,” added Dr Fan.

“Eventually with further development in tissue regeneration, not only bone growth can be achieved as other tissues like cartilage and skin tissues can also be directed to grow into these bioscaffolds. There will be broad applications in facial plastic surgery, maxillofacial trauma and reconstructive surgery as well. These bioscaffolds can also be used for preserving or augmenting bone for dental implants in patients who need their teeth removed,” he said.

NEW BRACES FOR A WINNING SMILE

NUS team led by Dr Mervyn Fathianathan, an NUS PhD graduate in Mechanical Engineering and Ms Renuga Gopal, a Bioengineering PhD candidate, has won the Special Prize for the Best Technology Impact Plan at the inaugural Intel-UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge 2005 held at UC Berkeley (17-18 Nov 2005).

The team which established BioMers Pte Ltd, has developed an aesthetic alternative to unsightly metallic braces for straightening crooked teeth. BioMer’s braces which are translucent are hence nearly invisible.

BIOMERS: From left: Dr Mervyn Fathianathan, CEO; Renuga Gopal, Head, Research & Development; Ms Karen Teo, Chief Technology Officer; and Mr George Aliphtiras, Chief Marketing Officer.