Scientists have successfully grown human bone cells outside of the body by using a glass ceramic made up of silicon, calcium, and phosphorous, which acts as a scaffold for cells, allowing them to grow and bond with each other quickly. The glass has already been approved for human use and is currently employed in orthopedic and dental surgery, where it is used to fill holes and mend fractures. The researchers now aim to develop a liquid form of the glass enriched with human bone cells, which could be injected into patients with complex fractures in order to accelerate healing. Such a treatment would represent a significant advancement in the management of diseases like osteoporosis.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bioresearchonline.com on the 19th October 2000
