Researchers create ‘biocooperative’ material showing bone-healing potential of blood

The Independent, and Science Daily reported on the study, among others. 

"For years, scientists have been looking at synthetic approaches to recreate the natural regenerative environment, which has proven difficult given its inherent complexity," said Mata, according to The Independent. "Here, we have taken an approach to try to work with biology instead of recreating it. This 'biocooperative' approach opens opportunities to develop regenerative materials by harnessing and enhancing mechanisms of the natural healing process. In other words, our approach aims to use regenerative mechanisms that we have evolved with as fabrication steps to engineer regenerative materials."

The human body is incredibly efficient at repairing minor injuries like cuts and scrapes due to the complex process of tissue regeneration. When a person injures themselves, the body immediately responds by forming a blood clot, which acts as a temporary patch to prevent further blood loss. This blood clot transforms into a specialized tissue called the regenerative hematoma (RH), a dynamic environment filled with various cells, proteins, and growth factors essential for healing.

Most of the body's tissues have evolved to regenerate ruptures or fractures with remarkable efficacy, as long as these are small in size. However, larger injuries may overwhelm the body's natural healing abilities, requiring medical intervention. Learning from this natural process, the researchers developed a way to enhance it.

The research team developed a self-assembling methodology where synthetic peptides are mixed with whole blood taken from the patient to create a material that harnesses key molecules, cells, and mechanisms of the natural healing process. They combined synthetic peptides with a patient's own blood, resulting in a self-assembling material. This innovative blood-derived material has shown the potential to repair damaged bones in animal models.

"The possibility to easily and safely turn people's blood into highly regenerative implants is really exciting," said Dr. Cosimo Ligorio, from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham and co-author of the study, according to The Independent. "Blood is practically free and can be easily obtained from patients in relatively high volumes. Our aim is to establish a toolkit that could be easily accessed and used within a clinical setting to rapidly and safely transform patients' blood into rich, accessible, and tunable regenerative implants."

Using this method, the team has successfully repaired bone in animal models using the animals' own blood. The materials can be easily assembled, manipulated, and even 3D-printed while maintaining normal functions of the natural RH. These peptide-based materials can be shaped and molded into various forms, making them adaptable for different types of injuries.

These materials retain their capacity to facilitate normal platelet function, growth factor production, and cell recruitment, which are vital for successful tissue regeneration. By mimicking the natural regenerative hematoma and enhancing its structural and functional properties, the team was able to engineer regenerative materials capable of accelerating tissue regeneration.

Researchers from the Schools of Pharmacy and Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham used specific molecules called peptide molecules to create living materials that enhance tissue regeneration. These peptides can guide key processes during the natural healing of tissues and were utilized to create living materials designed to enhance tissue regeneration.

The development of this material could lead to personalized regenerative treatments, such as 3D-printed implants, to address various injuries and illnesses. Researchers suggest the new material has the potential to create personalized regenerative blood products that could be used as effective therapies to treat injury and disease.

This biocooperative material has the potential to transform regenerative medicine with personalized treatments that utilize and amplify the body's innate healing abilities. By unlocking the potential of blood to create transformative regenerative materials, the researchers hope to open up new possibilities in the treatment of injuries and diseases.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq