Nanofiber Paste

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Track Code: 2015-126 Short Description     A biomedical material for bone and cartilage regeneration Abstract         Northwestern researchers have developed novel nanofibers that are formed by self-assembly of peptide amphiphiles. These nanofibers can be customized for a specific application in regenerative medicine through the use of molecules that display bioactive signals on their surfaces.  In this particular application, they have developed a product that can be used as a bone void filler and for cartilage repair.  It is composed of a slurry paste made from a nanofiber solution mixed with solid bio-compatible particles.  As a bone void filler, the paste-like consistency of this mixture allows surgeons to easy adapt the material into any size bone defect, then after implantation the nanofibers case the paste to gel in the shape of the bone defect. This material induces bone growth, and it can be used to deliver growth factors into the defect site that will be released over time from the nanofiber gel.  For an application in cartilage regeneration, the product localizes and maintains cells and growth factors within the defect site, can be implanted through minimally invasive means and is biodegrade into amino acids and lipids that can be safely cleared by the body. Tags   MATERIALS: biomedical Posted Date    Oct 28, 2016 12:13 PM Applications Cranial bone regeneration Cartilage regeneration Bone void filler for large scale bone injuries Bone growth induction for spinal fusion Localized growth factor or protein delivery Advantages Ability to gel in vivo and accommodate any shape Local delivery of any cocktail of growth factors Flexibility of formulation to additional applications Bioactive scaffold capable of being implanted through minimally invasive means Biodegrade into amino acids and lipids that can be safely cleared by the body Chemically versatile Publications IP Status US (15/293,666) and PCT (PCT/US16/57007) patent applications were filed.