I-Corps: Novel apatite/collagen scaffolds for bone repair

据报道，目前骨移植和骨替代材料的市场约为30亿美元，由于人口老龄化，市场逐年增长。 尽管对骨替代材料的需求很大，但目前许多可用的产品在一些关键领域都存在不足。有了以前的NSF奖和其他支持，PI？康涅狄格大学的研究小组开发了一种新型仿生骨支架，与目前可用的产品相比，该支架具有潜在的突破性性能：（1）上级机械性能，为初始手术操作提供必要的机械强度，并为增强新骨形成提供机械支持;（2）快速骨形成，这将显著缩短患者的康复时间;（3）与新骨长入速率相同的降解速率，导致用天然骨近乎完美的缺损修复;（4）简单、低成本且易于规模化大规模生产的制造工艺。如果成功，这一努力将提供从学术发现到商业化产品的新技术的转化。I-Corp对该提案的资助将使该团队能够更好地了解当前的骨替代品市场以及消费者、骨科和医疗器械公司的需求，从而最大限度地提高这种新型支架的潜在成功率。这样的理解将使团队能够制定一个与市场机会相匹配的计划，并指导从研发到强大产品的转变。

It is reported that the current market for bone graft and bone substitute materials is approximately $3 billion with continuous year to year growth due to the aging population. Despite the large demand in bone substitute materials, many currently available products fall short in some key areas. With the previous NSF award and other support, the PI?s research group at the University of Connecticut has developed a novel biomimetic bone scaffold with potentially breakthrough properties compared to currently-available products: (1) superior mechanical properties, providing the necessary mechanical strength for initial surgical handling and mechanical support for enhanced new bone formation; (2) rapid bone formation, which would significantly reduce the rehabilitation time for patients; (3) degradation rate that is identical to the new bone ingrowth rate, leading to near-perfect defect repair with natural bone; and;(4) a fabrication process that is simple, low cost, and easily scaled for mass production.If successful, this effort will provide the translation of a novel technology from academic discovery to a commercialized product. I-Corp funding of this proposal will enable the team to establish a better understanding of the current bone substitute market and the needs of consumers, orthopedic and medical device companies and importantly the patients thereby, maximizing the potential success of this novel scaffold. Such an understanding will allow the team to develop a plan that matches market opportunities, and guides the transformation from research and development to a robust product.