Holisticka: Hydrogel for bone reconstruction

CHALLENGES

Bone reconstruction for large bone fragment losses is a major unsolved problem, especially in cases of severe trauma, cancer treatments and reconstructive surgery. The autologous bone graft remains the current standard approach, but the availability of suitable bone is too limited. In these cases, bone substitutes (synthetic or natural biomaterials) can be used. However, these biomaterials are not sufficient to avoid bone defects, including vascular and nervous lesions.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTION

Innovative biomaterial stimulating osteogenesis, vascularization and innervation, miming the different bone microenvironments (several types of cells in the same matrix).

Applications

Bone reconstruction

Advantages

• Optimal osteogenesis
• Vascularization
• Innervation
• Biocompatible and Biodegradable
• Cell-free and growth factor-free
• No inflammation

DEVELOPMENT STATUS : TRL 4

• In vivo results of sub-cutaneous implantation on mice available.
• In vivo results of the implantation of the material in bone defects in rat available:
  • Femoral condyle model (non-critical size lesion)
  • Mandibular lesion model (critical lesion)
• In vivo experiments on pigs are on going

HOW IT WORKS

The patented bioactive hydrogel is based on a matrix of recombinant Elastin-Like Polypeptides (ELPs), chemically modified with grafted peptides intended to stimulate innervation and angiogenesis, combined with calcium phosphate particles to promote bone repair.

This association creates a unique 3D complex between nervous sensorial system, endothelial and bone cells to stimulate angiogenesis, neuronal sprouting, and bone growth.

ELPs are polyvalent biopolymers with elastic properties which are essential for blood vessels synthesis.

Such holistic approach for bone regeneration is a disruptive technology in the tissue engineering field.