Making a Biomimetic Patch for Tendon-to-bone Transition (IMAGE)

Washington University in St. Louis

Making a Biomimetic Patch for Tendon-to-bone Transition

Caption

A graded biomimetic patch is created in Younan Xia's laboratory by coating a mat of biocompatible polymers with a mineral solution that contains calcium and phosphate ions at concentrations 10 times higher than those in human plasma. The darker end of the membrane, which is more heavily loaded with calcium phosphate, encourages stem cells to form bone, whereas stem cells in the demineralized membrane tend to form a type of cell found in tendons.

Credit

Xia/Thomopoulos

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