Traumatic events often require implanted orthopedic devices such as screws, plates, artificial knees, hips, or other joints. The inability of these devices to bind to and incorporate new bone cells is the leading cause of their failure. One emerging area of orthopedic research is the use of so-called bioactive materials to facilitate binding of implanted devices to bone cells. We have recently discovered one such bioactive material that is well suited for the task. The material is a protein known as PlyCB. This protein has a natural ability to bind very tightly to hydroxyapatite, the mineral component of bone that is often used as an inert coating material on implanted devices. In theory, PlyCB will "coat" the hydroxyapatite coating material on the implant. Additionally, we will use molecular biology techniques to "engineer" a signal onto the surface of PlyCB that will attract new bone cells, known as osteoblasts. This signal mimics a naturally occurring signal that is known to attract bone cells and cause them to adhere to the signal. This specific proposal will measure the binding affinity between our bioactive material and bone cells. Future proposals will use this material in animal models of bone implants to show efficacy of the approach. One day, we envision testing many different signals on the surface of the PlyCB bioactive material that will attract bone cells or stimulate their growth into the implant. |
