Small molecule mediated bone regeneration using a degradable polymer membrane

肥胖水平的上升直接导致糖尿病患者数量的激增。虽然有许多健康的影响，作为这种疾病的结果之一，成为严重关注的是牙龈疾病的发展。感染和牙龈出血是在温和的一端的影响-更积极的疾病导致损失的骨头举行的牙齿。在这一点上，有必要进行手术，以尝试和恢复颌骨的高度。这项资助概述了一种使用先进材料进行这种手术的新方法，这种材料可以刺激新骨生长（通过传递一种称为刺猬蛋白质的化学类似物），但具有抵抗口腔中的力所需的机械强度，以及可降解。这种材料还将应用于需要从刚性材料中输送药物的其他领域，包括修复目前需要截肢的腿部和手臂创伤。

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.