Novel therapeutic agents to improve bone quality during fracture repair

Purpose and goal

Despite using the most sophisticated treatments, 10% of bone fractures do not heal. The project aims to heal those fractures by mastering the biology behind the non-unions. This is achieved by adding potent bone-active and disease modulating drugs. These are studied in different animal models of bone formation. Secondly, new methods to evaluate the quality of the newly formed bone based on synchrotron radiation techniques to evaluate e.g. bone composition-structure-function relationships are assessed. These factors are essential to determine the treatments future potential.

Results and expected effects

When treating a bone fracture in a rat with a combination of bone active proteins and bisphosphonates, more and stronger new bone formation occurs than if these adjuncts are not used. The effect is apparent both when used as an adjunct alone or in combination with autograft or allograft, and in healthy and osteoporotic bone. This may prove valuable in the treatment of non-unions. Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy provides highly relevant information about the composition-structure-function relationships in newly formed bone.

Approach and implementation

The fellow established close collaboration within and between Lund University and University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, which allowed her to reintegrated into the Swedish system, develop an active exchange of e.g. students and methods. She secured additional funding, enabling her to establish a research group in Lund, participated in a career development program, developing new courses in Biomedical Engineering, and finally obtain a position as a University Lecturer.