Israeli scientists are growing bones.
A Northern Israeli medical lab, Bonus BioGroup, announced it’s going to use their new factory to grow bones – as in real human ones.
The test-tube grown fragments will be used for bone grafts and, if the experiments continue to go well, joint replacements.
They’ve developed a technique that uses the patient’s own fat cells to manufacture bone grafts that they claim are free from the current risks of rejection and surgical failure.
About 2 million bone grafts are performed annually for a number of reasons including severe breakage, disease, and as preventative measures.
At present about 20 percent of bone grafts lead to serious complications, and even in the remaining 80 percent pain is a common problem.
In addition to minimizing the risk of rejection, Bonus BioGroup says they are able to take a 3D scan of the area needing a replacement and custom fit it.
Scientists at the University of Southampton are also researching ways to rebuild damaged bones. They’ve learned they can grow and manipulate human embryonic stem cells into bone cells by using specialty plastics.
