Chemists at the UDE develop a nanopaste for the repair of
bone defects
Following accidents or cancer surgery surgeons often have to
transplant healthy bone tissue or synthetic material to repair the resulting
bone defects. Unfortunately, these procedures do not always have the desired
effect. Now Prof. Dr. Matthias Epple and his research team at the University of
Duisburg-Essen (UDE) have developed a nanoparticle paste which can be injected
into the defect and results in improved healing. The trick: the researchers
have combined synthetic calcium phosphate with DNA.
Now a professor for inorganic chemistry, Matthias Epple was
attracted to the interface between biology and medical science. “We have been
investigating the impact of mineral tissue such as teeth, bone and sea shells
for many years and are now using the knowledge we have gained to produce new biomaterials.”
To achieve this he has collaborated closely with medical scientists and his
current project – carried out with three of his doctoral students – was no
exception.