In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, researchers are cooking up a storm in the world of bone tissue engineering, and their latest creation could revolutionize the way we approach bone regeneration. Thi Duy Hanh Le, a scientist from the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), has led a team to develop a novel 3D scaffold that mimics the structure of bone, offering a promising solution for bone grafts that satisfy both clinical and social needs.
The team’s innovation lies in their use of chitosan, a biopolymer derived from the shells of crustaceans, and starch, combined with hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles sourced from chicken bones. “We wanted to create a scaffold that not only supports bone growth but also integrates seamlessly with the body,” Le explains. The result is a highly porous structure, with pores ranging from 150 to 500 micrometers, providing an ideal environment for bone cells to grow and thrive.
The addition of HA nanoparticles, with sizes ranging from 60 to 240 nanometers, is a game-changer. “The HA nanoparticles act as bioactive components, triggering the mineralization of the scaffold,” Le says. This means the scaffold not only provides a temporary structure for bone growth but also actively promotes the regeneration of bone tissue. The team’s research, published in the journal *Materials Research Express* (translated to English as “Materials Research Express”), shows that the composite scaffolds exhibit high biocompatibility and a lower biodegradation rate, making them an excellent candidate for bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications.
The implications of this research are significant, particularly for the medical and construction industries. In the medical field, this novel scaffold could offer a more effective solution for bone grafts, reducing recovery times and improving patient outcomes. In the construction industry, the development of bioactive materials that promote bone regeneration could lead to innovative building materials that are more compatible with the human body, opening up new possibilities for medical and architectural applications.
The team’s work is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary research, combining materials science, biology, and engineering to create innovative solutions for real-world problems. As we look to the future, the potential for this research to shape the field of bone tissue engineering is immense, offering hope for improved treatments and better quality of life for patients worldwide.