NOVEL BONE IMPLANT MATERIAL DEVELOPED
The
Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai has developed
a novel bone implant material for biomedical applications such
as jawbone augmentation, bone replacement and reconstruction of
the middle ear. Developed from degelatized bone, "chitosan and
gelatin", the material is cheap and a cost-effective alternative
to hydroxyapatite, which is very costly and is normally imported.
Degelatinized bone
is a by-product of bone-glue industry and is marketed as mineral
manure. It is recovered from crushed cattle bones and is crystallographically
similar to hydroxyapatite. Chitosan for the implant material is
isolated from prawn shells and is a by-product of the seafood
industry. It is well known for its bio-degradability, flexibility
and high resistance to heat. It provides toughness to the product
and does not allow the degelatinized bone particles to wither
away when the implant is placed in the defective.
The CSIR lab has
tried the implant in dogs with encouraging results. Studies are
now being carried out for use of this product in humans. The CLRI
proposes to patent this material, which will prove to be a boon
to accident victims.
