Principal Investigator: Simone Sprio, Anna Tampieri

Involved personnel: Monica Montesi, Michele Iafisco, Monica Sandri, Massimiliano Dapporto, Marta Tavoni

Formulations of bioactive ion-doped metastable calcium phosphates, obtained as pastes with tailored viscosity, capable of self-consolidation through chemical processes of dissolution-re-precipitation occurring at body temperature that generate porous scaffolds based on ionically substituted hydroxyapatite with high bioactivity, antibacterial properties and mechanical performances. Thanks to the composition and nanostructure mimicking the natural bone, the new implants have greater bio-resorption capacity and mechanical properties also conferred by the presence of biocompatible natural polymers in the injectable formulation.
These devices are indicated for the treatment of bone degenerations in different orthopedic sites where the implantation of solid scaffolds (i.e. tibial plate, femoral head) is provided, as bone fillers, aid for cages in spinal fusion procedures, vertebroplasty or in cranio-maxillofacial and dental surgery.
The pastes have high ability to bind and slowly release various types of bioactive molecules, in particular anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and anticancer drugs.
As bone cements, the new hardening pastes are designed to replace injectable acrylic devices which, despite their ability to provide fast mechanical stabilization, do not stimulate bone regeneration and may even cause serious side effects that raise concerns for their clinical use, especially in young and physically active patients.

Equipment and Processes

  • Planetary ball mill
  • Incubator
  • Furnaces in air atmosphere
  • Shear mixers
  • Equipment for 3D printing

 

Main collaborations

  • Finceramica S.p.A., Faenza, Italy
  • University la Cattolica di Roma, Italy
  • Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST, Meldola), Italy
  • University of Bologna, Italy

Projects

Publications and Patents

  • Montesi M, Panseri S, Dapporto M, Tampieri A, Sprio S. (2017) Sr-substituted bone cements direct mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts and osteoclast fate, Plos One, 12(2): e0172100. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172100.
  • Sprio S, Dapporto M, Montesi M, Panseri S, Lattanzi W, Pola E, Logroscino G, Tampieri A. (2016) Novel osteointegrative Sr-substituted apatitic cements enriched with alginate. Materials 9: 763-780. doi:10.3390/ma9090763
  • WO2015193836 (A1): Injectable apatitic cement ionically multi-substituted for regenerative vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
    Inventors: Sprio S, Tampieri A, Sandri M, Panseri S, Logroscino G.
    Registration date: 19/06/2014 International publication date: 23/12/2015
    Serial: PCT/IB2015/054594
    Granted in: EU