Small molecule mediated bone regeneration using a degradable polymer membrane

肥胖水平的上升直接导致了糖尿病患者数量的激增。虽然这种疾病对健康有很多影响，但牙龈疾病的发展引起了人们的严重关注。牙龈感染和出血只是轻微的影响——更严重的疾病会导致支撑牙齿的骨头脱落。在这一点上，有必要进行手术，以试图恢复颌骨的高度。这项拨款概述了这种手术的新方法，使用一种先进的材料，可以刺激新骨的生长（通过传递一种被称为刺猬蛋白的化学类似物），但具有抵抗口腔力所需的机械强度，并且可降解。这种材料还将应用于其他需要从坚硬材料中输送药物的领域，包括修复目前需要截肢的腿部和手臂的创伤性损伤。

Rising levels of obesity are directly leading to an explosion in the number of diabetic individuals. While there are many health implications as a result of this disease one that becomes of serious concern is the development of gum disease. Infected and bleeding gums are at the mild end of the effects – more aggressive disease leads to the loss of the bone that holds the teeth. At this point it is necessary to undertake surgery in order to try and restore the height of the jaw bone. This grant outlines a new approach to such surgery using an advanced material that can stimulate new bone to grow (through the delivery of a chemical analogue of a protein known as hedgehog) but has the mechanical strength needed to resist the forces in the mouth, as well as being degradable. This material will also have applications in other areas that require the delivery of a drug from a stiff material, including repair of traumatic injuries to the legs and arms that currently require amputation.