Bone healing can be straightforward, but it sometimes takes time for people to recover from complex fractures or major orthopaedic operations. A project now getting under way aims to develop smart biomaterials that support the body’s natural healing process.
The RESBONREG project is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and is being carried out in collaboration between Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW), the University of Graz and the Institute for Experimental Medicine in the Czech Republic; it is led by Prof. Dr Amir Fahmi of the HSRW.
Over the course of three years, the researchers involved in the project will develop structures that mimic the body’s extracellular matrix – the complex network that provides cells with support and orientation during tissue formation. The structures recreate an environment in which bone-forming cells can grow as they would in healthy tissue. In addition, they are electrically stimulated to further promote cell growth. By integrating bio-inspired materials with state-of-the-art technology, RESBONREG aims to develop new solutions for patients with severe bone defects, as well as to improve recovery following trauma, fractures and orthopaedic surgery.
