Beaumont Hospital – Royal Oak (Mich.) researchers developed a biodegradable polymer for orthopedic injury recovery, according to News-Medical. Nanomedicine will publish the researchers' results.
Here are six key notes:
1. Kevin Baker, PhD, of Beaumont Orthopaedic Researcher Laboratories, and Rangaramanujam Kannan, PhD, of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, worked on the study.
2. The researchers developed a plastic made of Montmorillonite clay and cornstarch to help heal bones damaged by orthopedic injuries.
3. The use of the synthetic material may decrease the complication rate, as patients would recover from only one surgery since there would be no bone harvesting.
4. The researchers intend for orthopedic surgeons to use the biodegradable polymer without the support from any "permanent hardware."
5. The polymer dissolves within 18 months of placement. New bone forms as the material disintegrates.
6. Researchers combined polymer-clay mixture with carbon dioxide to create the material.