Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have manufactured a novel bio-scaffold that exhibits electrical signals when pressure is applied, accelerating bone regeneration.

Bone healing is complex, and conventional methods like bone grafting and growth factor delivery have limitations due to high costs.

To resolve this issue, the team, led by Professor Hong Seung-bum of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST, developed a scaffold that leverages the intrinsic bone-forming ability of hydroxyapatite (HAp), a basic calcium phosphate mineral found in bones and teeth. Professor Kim Jang-ho of the Department of Convergence Biosystems Engineering at Chonnam National University also participated in the study.

HAp, known for its biocompatible properties and usage in preventing cavities, is a key ingredient in toothpaste.

While previous studies in piezoelectric scaffolds confirmed their effectiveness in enhancing bone regeneration and fusion using various polymer-based materials, these studies faced limitations in replicating the complex cellular environment necessary for optimal bone tissue regeneration.

The latest research by KAIST and Chonnam National University overcomes these barriers by using HAp's unique bone-forming capabilities to mimic the natural bone tissue environment.

The team has developed a manufacturing process that fuses HAp with polymer films, creating a flexible and independent scaffold. This scaffold, tested in vitro and in vivo on experimental mice, demonstrated potential in accelerating osteogenesis.

The team also thoroughly investigated the underlying causes of this enhanced bone restoration effect.

Through atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis, the team examined the electrical properties of the scaffold, and detailed evaluations were conducted on the scaffold's surface characteristics, focusing on cell shape and the formation of cytoskeletal proteins.

"We have developed a Hydroxyapatite (HAp) fused piezoelectric composite material that acts like a 'bone band-aid,' accelerating the speed of bone regeneration," Professor Hong said. "This research not only presents a new direction in biomaterial design but also is meaningful in exploring the effects of piezoelectricity and surface characteristics on bone regeneration."

The results of the research were published in the ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.