Smart biomaterials allow regeneration of maxillofacial tissue

Spanish group DevelopBiosystem is behind the Aeroinjectgro project, which seeks to address the challenges associated with maxillofacial reconstructive surgery using biomaterials.

The properties of these materials can change when influenced by body temperature, and can be applied by injection or aerosol.  

The reconstruction of big tissue defects is one of the main challenges faced by modern maxillofacial surgery. Previously, allogenic bone grafts were used for the simplest defects, but they have drawbacks, such as its high cost, limited mechanical properties and risk of disease transmission. Tissue engineering is being researched as an alternative and, in particular, the application of biomaterials able to interact with biological tissues.  

DevelopBiosystem has been researching biomaterials that regenerate tissues, in particular for the regeneration of bone defects caused by a disease or injury. Four products will be developed: a biomaterial with three phases resorbable in three different stages to keep the cellular support until regeneration, smart thermosensitive and injectable materials with ability to transition from solution to gel when coming into contact with the body temperature, a stabilising biomaterial with cellular barrier function between solid and soft tissues and a tissue regeneration membrane with the same barrier function applicable through aerosol.  

All of these biomaterials will be adapted by means of the development of new technologies to be administered by injection (formulations in solution transforming into hydrogels stable at body temperature acting as tissue regeneration supports) and by aerosol (for open areas).