Researchers in the UK are developing a chemical method to remove or prevent abnormal bone growths in the soft tissue of amputees. They hope the technique will limit additional surgery for seriously injured soldiers.
These 3D models show heterotopic ossification samples before (A) and after (B) treatment with hexametaphosphate
Heterotopic ossification, where a massive inflammatory response causes bone to form within soft tissues, is common in amputees and prevalent amongst combat-injured military personnel. Current treatments targeting the biological pathways involved are limited and surgery is often required to remove the bony growths and ease pain. Now, scientists at the University of Birmingham, including PhD researcher Neil Eisenstein who is also a trauma surgeon in the British Army, are investigating a chemical demineralisation approach using hexametaphosphate as a non-surgical treatment for this debilitating condition.
The full story can be read in Chemistry World.
The original article can be read below and is free to access until 23rd June 2016:
Enzymatically regulated demineralisation of pathological bone using sodium hexametaphosphate
Neil Eisenstein, Richard Williams, Sophie Cox, Sarah Stapley and Liam Grover*
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C6TB00461J
