Electrospun β-TCP Bone Scaffold for Localized BMP-2 Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bone graft materials that incorporate bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) face issues with unintended leakage, leading to adverse effects such as inflammation and ectopic bone formation, as they do not effectively confine BMP-2 to the treatment site.

Innovation Solution

A bone regeneration material comprising biodegradable fibers with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and a targetable BMP-2 (tBMP-2) fusion protein, where BMP-2 is bound to β-TCP via a β-TCP-binding peptide, ensuring controlled release and confinement within the bone defect site.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If BMP-2 is incorporated into bone graft materials, then bone formation is promoted, but BMP-2 leaks to unintended sites causing adverse effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone formation rateVSAvoidBMP-2 leakage to unintended sites
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The BMP-2 protein is nested within the three-dimensional porous structure of the calcium phosphate bone graft material. The peptide sequence of BMP-2 is embedded into the crystal lattice of hydroxyapatite or calcium phosphate, creating a hierarchical structure where the growth factor is contained within the material matrix at multiple levels, preventing leakage while maintaining biological activity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A peptide sequence acts as an intermediary between BMP-2 and the calcium phosphate material. This peptide sequence binds BMP-2 to the calcium phosphate crystal structure, serving as a molecular bridge that anchors the growth factor to the scaffold. The intermediary peptide allows controlled interaction between BMP-2 and the material while preventing uncontrolled release to surrounding tissues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If BMP-2 is released rapidly, then bone formation is accelerated, but unintended bone formation and inflammation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone formation speedVSAvoidectopic bone formation and inflammation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The calcium phosphate material provides periodic release of BMP-2 through its degradation pattern. As the calcium phosphate slowly degrades in the physiological environment, BMP-2 is released in a controlled periodic manner that matches the bone healing timeline, preventing sudden bursts of growth factor that could cause ectopic bone formation or inflammatory responses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

BMP-2 is localized within the three-dimensional porous structure of the bone graft material at the specific defect site. The spatial distribution of BMP-2 throughout the porous scaffold ensures concentrated action at the intended location while the material's structure physically restricts diffusion to surrounding tissues, preventing ectopic bone formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the bone graft material has high porosity, then biological fluids permeate easily, but structural strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiological fluid permeationVSAvoidmechanical strength of graft
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bone graft material utilizes a three-dimensional porous structure made of calcium phosphate with controlled pore sizes and interconnectivity. This porous architecture allows biological fluids to permeate deeply throughout the material for nutrient transport and cell infiltration, while the calcium phosphate crystal structure and pore wall thickness are engineered to maintain sufficient mechanical strength for load-bearing applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The bone graft material combines calcium phosphate with organic components and peptide sequences to create a composite structure. This composite approach allows optimization of both mechanical properties and biological functionality, where the inorganic calcium phosphate provides structural strength while the organic components and porous architecture enable fluid permeation and BMP-2 delivery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 material ensures safe and controlled delivery of BMP-2, preventing leakage and minimizing adverse effects while promoting efficient bone regeneration by maintaining BMP-2 at the treatment site, facilitating continuous bone formation and remodeling.

Implementation Method 1

a spinning solution is ejected as a thin fiber from a nozzle and pulled by the electrostatic attraction in the electric field to be deposited on a collector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

BMP-2 is bound to the b-TCP via the b-TCP-binding peptide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3902572B1A bone regeneration material having a cotton-wool like structure formed of a plurality of electrospun fibers
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 ORTHOREBIRTH
  • EP3902572B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3902572B1 patent drawingFigure 1D~1F
  • EP3902572B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A bone regeneration material has a cotton-wool like structure formed of a plurality of electrospun fibers that contain bound BMP-2 through β-TCP binding peptide. The electrospun biodegradable fiber contains 25-65 vol% of β-TCP particles distributed in the fiber such that a portion of the β-TCP particles is exposed on a surface of the electrospun fiber and the remaining portion of the β-TCP particles is buried in the fiber. β-TCP binding peptides that are fused with BMP-2 are bound to the β-TCP particles so that BMP-2 is tethered to β-TCP particles on the surface of the fibers. Upon implantation of the bone regeneration material in a bone defect site of a human body, BMP-2 that are tethered to β-TCP particles on the surface of the bone regeneration material promotes proliferation and differentiation of cells at the bone defect site.