Manufacturer of innovative regenerative implants Osteopore Limited (ASX: OSX) has been issued a patent by the European Patent Office, describing a ground-breaking method for forming a bio-composite comprised of a polymetric matrix and a magnesium filler.
European Patent number EP 3218019 A4 describes the process by which a magnesium filler comprised of a soluble magnesium salt – magnesium chloride (MgCl2), magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), or magnesium phosphate (Mg3(PO4)2) – is produced as a thin film, or when combined with a suitable polymer, is used to produce ‘smart’ three-dimensional biomimetic scaffolds without requiring solvents or heat.
Professor Teoh Swee Hin, said soluble magnesium salts in combination with regenerative implants improve normal cellular function and are particularly suited to regulating bone homeostasis, encouraging osteogenic differentiation, and in the regeneration of host tissues without the negative side-effects caused by the production of gas near the implant’s surface.
Traditionally in tissue engineering we build a scaffold like a house with interconnected rooms for cells to stay and then produce their extracellular matrix (ECM),” Professor Swee Hin said.
“Over time the scaffolds dissolve leaving only the bone ECM. At Osteopore we go beyond this tradition. In the next generation scaffolds we design the scaffolds to provide nutrients and energise the bone cells with trace elements of metal such as magnesium which are known to be essential for healthy bone, as the scaffolds degrade. This European patent is an illustration of this new frontier concept in scaffolds development for bone.”
This third-generation bone-implant technology enhances Osteopore’s product portfolio which extends the use of polycaprolactone (PCL) through the blending of PCL and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) in producing regenerative implants.
Professor Swee Hin said the combination of the company’s product innovation, coupled with cooperative initiatives that include renowned international biomedical companies, like the recently announced collaboration with Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, exposes Osteopore products to a potentially broader field of application while endeavouring to improve patient outcomes.
The technology portfolio contributes to the performance of Osteopore biomimetic scaffolds used in several of the company’s key markets and applications. The technological advantage secured through this patent is expected to initially support product sales in the global cranial procedures market which is currently estimated at around 1.1 million surgeries and is reported to be growing at more than two per cent per year in Europe, which accounts for roughly a third of the market.
