{"id":26189,"date":"2015-01-20T16:41:44","date_gmt":"2015-01-20T21:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sciencebusiness.technewslit.com\/?p=26189"},"modified":"2016-06-11T12:38:12","modified_gmt":"2016-06-11T16:38:12","slug":"university-spin-off-develops-bone-repair-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/technewslit.com\/sciencebusiness\/?p=26189","title":{"rendered":"University Spin-Off Develops Bone Repair Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Race<\/a>
Annagh Haven is a thoroughbred race horse who had her jaw repaired with a technology developed by a spin-off enterprise in Ireland. With Annagh Haven, l-r, is Ireland’s Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation Damien English, Fergal O’Brien in whose lab the technology was developed, and Laurence Mulvany, owner of Annagh Haven.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

20 January 2015. A materials science research center and university spin-off company in Ireland are developing a technology using natural materials to repair bones in people and animals. The bone-repair technology is a product of Ireland’s Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research<\/a> (Amber) center at Trinity College in Dublin and SurgaColl Technologies<\/a> in Cork, a spin-off enterprise from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.<\/p>\n

The technology, marketed as HydroxyColl<\/a>, is a bone graft substitute that combines two main ingredients in bone, collagen and hydroxyapatite, built on a bioactive collagen scaffold for repairing defects in bone tissue. Collagen<\/a> is an abundant human protein that gives strength and elasticity to skin and connective tissue, as well as bones. Hydroxyapatite<\/a> is a ceramic mineral that gives bone tissue its hardness, and because of its bioactivity, can support bone regeneration and growth.<\/p>\n

The HydroxyColl technology was developed in the lab of Fergal O’Brien<\/a>, a bioengineering professor at Royal College of Surgeons and deputy director of Amber. The company, founded by O’Brien, says HydroxyColl directs regeneration of bone tissue and blood vessels around the collagen scaffold. As the bone heals, new bone tissue develops and replaces HydroxyColl, which is resorbed into the body. While mechanically strong, HydroxyColl is also porous and permeable, enabling the flow of cells and fluid needed to grow new bone.<\/p>\n

HydroxyColl was tested on Annagh Haven, a 2 year-old thoroughbred race horse suffering from an aneurysmal cyst that caused her jaw to swell with a growing risk of fracture. The swollen jaw made it difficult for the horse to chew, raising fears of permanent harm or euthanasia, according to Science Foundation Ireland<\/a> that funds Amber.<\/p>\n

Annagh Haven underwent surgery at University College Dublin\u2019s Veterinary Hospital, where the cyst was removed and replaced with sheets of HydroxyColl. The implanted HydroxyColl made it possible for new bone to replace the removed cyst, with normal bone shape and function restored in the horse’s jaw. Science Foundation Ireland says Annagh Haven since returned to a successful racing career.<\/p>\n

HydroxyColl is expected to undergo human clinical trials later this year, followed by submission for regulatory approvals.<\/p>\n

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