Nanotubes used to spur bone growth

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they are using nanotubes and stem cells to help accelerate bone growth in patients who undergo orthopedic surgery.

The University of California-San Diego researchers said they placed mesenchymal stem cells on top of very thin titanium oxide nanotubes to control bone building cells. Mesenchymal stem cells can be directly supplied from a patient's own bone marrow, the scientists said.

"If you break your knee or leg from skiing, for example, an orthopedic surgeon will implant a titanium rod and you will be on crutches for about three months," said Professor Sungho Jin. "But what we anticipate through our research is that if the surgeon uses titanium oxide nanotubes with stem cells, the bone healing could be accelerated and a patient may be able to walk in one month instead of being on crunches for three months.

The research -- said to be the first of its kind to use stem cells attached to titanium oxide nanotube implants -- also included Professors Shu Chien and Adam Engler, as well Seunghan Oh and other researchers.

The study appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.