Novel implantable biomaterials and their combination
with stem cells and with recombinant factors that promote cell differentiation
and healing have been recognized by the UK Foresight Programme and European
Commission Initiatives to be extremely important in health care technologies
for the future. The clinical need in Europe
for novel bone graft replacement materials is clear and has been called for by
health practitioners and academics alike. The ultimate objective of the SilkBone project
has been to produce an entirely novel BSM based on silk technology developed
the Project Coordinator, Partner Oxford Biomaterials, and to seed this BSM scaffold
with tissue engineered non-foetal stem cells, generating a cellular, bone
substitute material. The goal was to combine the following unique features in
the BSM: 1. Full bio-absorption; 2. Sufficient tensile/mechanical properties to
act as a stand-alone, load bearing bone graft replacement; 3. Osteoconductivity
and osteoinductivity (guides and encourages bone tissue regeneration) 4.
Capable of being seeded with a patient’s own mesenchymal (bone marrow) stem
cells. | 