Program: Collaborative Research with Industry (CRI)

Field: Materials Engineering

Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ika Dewi Ana

Sending University: Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)

Japanese Co-Investigator: Prof. Dr. Yasuhiko TABATA

Japanese University: Kyoto University

Year: 2011

Abstract:

Bone tissue is one of the most frequently used tissues for transplantation. Annually more than a million patients are treated worldwide for skeletal problems in the field of orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, maxillofacial surgery and neurosurgery. Autologous bone graft is still considered to be the golden standard of bone grafting materials although patients must undergo the pain and possible complications associated with the harvesting procedure. Allogeneic and xenogeneic bone grafts carry with them a theoretical risk of disease transmission and increased cost. Since synthetic alloplastic materials can be precisely controlled for their physical and biological properties and are not constrained by limitations of additional surgical procedures for their fabrication, they are considered to be the most promising bone grafting materials. To provide the answer to the issue, the basic knowledge on the composition of human bone mineral must be understood. It is known from the previous researches that carbonate apatite (CHA) has been a most likely candidate for bone substitutes with a superior biodegradation. The current project aimed to investigate that dissolution-precipitation method of calcium hydroxide in gelatin system is a simple, cheap, and appropriate alternative to fabricate biomimetic bone-substituting carbonate apatite composite due to its intrinsic osteoconductive properties, which can be further modulated and adjusted by changing the chemical composition of the created set mass and by the inclusion of bone growth stimulating factors with time-dependent release. Expanding research collaboration; Strengthening publication capacity; Commercialization steps have been completed. Capacity development of the research group by joint supervision with previous collaborators; Equipment and instrument for research provided by the project The results have been launched into the industry in 2014. We are now in process of finalizing the second and third products going into the market.