Bioabsorbable Bone Cement from Bivalve Shells for Osteoinduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone substitutes and cements used for filling bone losses or sealing prostheses often cause osteocyte necrosis, mobility issues, and require repeated surgeries due to their inert and non-bioactive nature, with some materials inducing inflammatory reactions and releasing harmful degradation products.

Innovation Solution

A pulverulent semisynthetic bioabsorbable material derived from the shell of bivalve molluscs, enhanced with insoluble and soluble biopolymers and calcium carbonate transformed by carbonation, to optimize cell and tissue regeneration, healing, and osteoinduction, suitable for bone substitutes, injectable cements, and osteosynthesis devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PMMA cement is used for sealing prostheses, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but osteocyte necrosis and inflammatory reactions occur due to exothermic polymerization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidosteocyte necrosis

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing PMMA with a calcium phosphate-based cement system, fundamentally altering the polymerization chemistry to eliminate exothermic reactions while maintaining sealing functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite material system combining calcium phosphate minerals with collagen and other bioactive components, creating a biocompatible cement that provides both mechanical sealing and biological compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If calcium phosphate cements are used for bone filling, then osteoconduction properties are improved, but bioactivity remains limited and complete bioabsorption is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveosteoconduction propertiesVSAvoidbioactivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material combining calcium phosphate minerals with collagen matrices and bioactive molecules, enhancing the inert calcium phosphate with biological components that provide osteoinduction and complete bioabsorption capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Collagen acts as an intermediary substance between the mineral phase and biological tissue, facilitating cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation while enabling complete bioabsorption and regeneration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If bone substitutes are combined with animal collagen to achieve bioactivity, then osteoinduction is improved, but major inflammatory reactions occur in the recipient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveosteoinductionVSAvoidinflammatory reaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses biodegradable collagen that is completely bioabsorbed by the body over time, eliminating the need for permanent foreign bodies and reducing chronic inflammatory responses associated with non-resorbable materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies the collagen source and processing parameters to create biocompatible, immunologically tolerated protein matrices that induce minimal inflammatory response while maintaining osteoinductive properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If powder or granule bone substitutes are used, then ease of application is improved, but adhesive and plastic properties are insufficient without liquid carriers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of applicationVSAvoidcohesion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the hydraulic properties of liquid carriers (saline, blood, or specialized solutions) to deliver and distribute the powder substitute uniformly throughout the defect site, with the liquid serving as a temporary vehicle that facilitates placement before setting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The cement system undergoes a phase transition from liquid-slurry state during application to solid state after setting, providing ease of injection or placement in fluid form followed by strength development in solid form

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The modified material promotes tissue integration, reduces the need for repeat surgeries, and enhances bioactivity, providing improved osteoconduction and osteoinduction properties, while minimizing inflammatory reactions and adverse effects.

Implementation Method 1

calcium carbonate transformed by carbonation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCarbonation:

Data Source

PatentUS11311645B2Pulverulent semisynthetic material obtained by modifying the composition of a natural marine biomaterial, method of manufacture thereof, and applications thereof

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 MBPMAURITIUS LTD

AI summary

A pulverulent semisynthetic material, derived from a natural marine biomaterial, namely the aragonitic inner layer of the shell of bivalve molluscs selected from Pinctadines, notably Pinctada maxima, margaritifera, and Tridacnes, notably Tridacna gigas, maxima, derasa, tevaroa, squamosa, crocea, Hippopus hippopus, Hippopus porcelanus, in pulverulent form, with the addition of insoluble and soluble biopolymers and calcium carbonate transformed by carbonation.