Recent studies have shown that synthetic silicate nanosheets are capable of stimulating stem cells to transform into osteocytes without the need for additional osteoinducible factors.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), affiliated with Harvard University, have reported for the first time that synthetic silicate nanosheets, also known as layered clay, are able to induce stem cells to become bone cells without the need for additional osteinin-inducing factors. Synthetic silicates consist of simple or complex salts of silicic acid and are widely used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications, such as food additives, glass and ceramic fillers, and anti-caking agents.
The study has been published in the journal Advanced Materials.
As the U.S. population ages, injuries and degenerative diseases increase accordingly," said Dr. Ali Hardemjoseni of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Harvard Medical School, senior author of the study. "As a result, there is an increasing demand for being able to repair damaged tissues. In particular, there is a huge demand for new materials that can guide stem cell differentiation and promote the formation of functional tissues. Silicate nanosheets are expected to meet this demand in the medical and biotechnology sectors. ”
Aklesh Gahaval of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Brigham and Women's Hospital is the study's first author and a visiting scholar at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. "Based on strong preliminary studies, we believe that these highly bioactive nanosheets could be used to develop devices such as injectable tissue repair matrices, bioactive fillers, or **agents for stimulating specific cellular responses in bone-related tissue engineering," he said. Quality Authors List