Research Projects

Critical sized bone defects are hard to heal and require surgical interventions including stabilization using metallic or ceramic implants. These implants require major surgeries and also pose threat of secondary infections. These implants are not degradable and thus remain in the body for lifelong without helping in tissue healing and regeneration. Long term toxicity due to heavy metal ion leaching has been reported from such implants. To overcome these issues the proposed study will develop an injectable biomaterial system that can both support the mechanical loading regimens on bone tissue as well as help in regeneration. The biomaterial system will mimic the nanocomposite mineralized nature of bone tissue to mimic both the stiffness and chemistry as well as biochemical cues, that could guide the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteogenic lineage. While the injectable nature of the system will help in delivery through a minimally invasive procedure to avoid surgery.