With the help of biomimetic matrices, a research team led by
bioengineers at the University of California, San Diego has discovered exactly
how calcium phosphate can coax stem cells to become bone-building cells. This
work is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the
week of Jan. 6, 2014.
UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering professor Shyni
Varghese and colleagues have traced a surprising pathway from these
biomaterials to bone formation. Their findings will help them refine the design
of biomaterials that encourage stem cells to give rise to new bone. The
researchers say their study may also point out new targets for treating bone
defects and bone metabolic disorders such as major fractures and osteoporosis.