Nanomaterials in regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine and dental surgery often rely on functional devices and scaffolds to achieve tissue replenishment. Conceptually, nano-structured materials seem to possess superior properties compared to those that encompass micro- and macrocomposites. Despite this, very few nano-based materials have been placed on the market as medical devices for the repair of human tissues.

To address this, the EU-funded 'Nanostructured & biomimetic ceramic-polymer composites for bone tissue regeneration' (NBC-REGEN4) project set out to produce, characterise and evaluate a series of novel nano-structured composites with significantly improved properties compared to existing materials. These innovative composites were biodegradable and based on combinations of nano-scale bioceramic particles with synthetic polymers.

Compared to existing collagen-based devices and scaffolds, the project-generated materials offered certain advantages such as a reduced risk of disease transmission. In addition, the nature of the composites allowed tailoring of material properties depending on the clinical situation, including the construction of complex layered structures with an optimised bone-facing surface.

When it comes to guided bone regeneration, the available products lack the capacity to stimulate bone regeneration and wound healing, as well as exert antimicrobial activity. The NBC-REGEN4 project used low-risk and environmentally friendly techniques to functionalise the surface of the scaffold to enhance its biomimetic and anti-inflammatory properties. The compact layer that comes into contact with soft tissue was modified to obtain nano-scale layers with incorporated antibiotics. The part of the membrane in contact with bone incorporated specific bone peptides able to successfully enhance new bone formation.

The unique properties of the NBC-REGEN4 membranes surpass the quality and capacity of commercially available materials. Most importantly, they make them ideal for clinical use in bone regeneration approaches and as restorative dental fillings.