Scientists have found a way of accelerating bone growth through nanotubes and stem cells. This could lead to quicker and better recovery from orthopedic surgery. Researcher at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) used a nano-biotechnology method of placing mesenchymal stem cells on top of ultra-thin titanium oxide nanotubes. In this way they control conversion paths, called differentiation, into osteoblasts or bone building cells.

 

Mesenchymal stem cells, which are different from embryonic stem cells, can be extracted and directly supplied from a patient's own bone marrow. Sungho Jin, co-author of the study and materials science professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering said that, their research anticipates that if a surgeon uses titanium oxide nanotubes with stem cells, the bone healing could be accelerated and a patient may be able to walk in one month instead of being on crunches for about three months.

 

A UCSD release said that, this is the first study of its kind using stem cells attached to titanium oxide nanotube implants. The study has appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.