Nanotubes and stem cells found to accelerate bone growth

1 February 2009

Nanotechnology and stem cells are the main focus areas for researchers and researchers throughout the globe are investigating areas where these can make revolution in medical fields. In a recent publication, researchers from University of California, San Diego claims that nanotubes and stem cells can greatly enhance the bone growth.

Presently when one break his or her knee or leg, a titanium rod is implanted and the patient is required to stay on bed for three months and according to researchers, the three months time could be reduced to one month by implanting titanium oxide nanotubes and stem cells.

Researchers at University of California, San Diego used nanobiotechnology methods for treating bone injuries. Researchers from multi-discipline including bioengineering and material science has extracted Mesenchymal stem cells from patients own bone marrow and implanted these cells on very thin titanium oxide nanotubes and so that these help in bone building. Titanium oxide nanotube implants can reduce the loosening of bones and therefore help in quick recovery especially in old age people.

According to the researchers, differentiation, a technique used for growing a specific type of cell in this case bone cell is used for growing bone cells with the help of nanotechnology. The data indicate that larger diameter nanotubes help in growing elongated stem cells on their surface much more in comparison to a smaller diameter nanotube. Researchers believe that this research will help in many stem sell differentiations in the areas of regenerative medicine and people at large will benefit from it.

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