Biomaterials are critically important to future developments in the life sciences. They provide a backbone for biomedical research in academia and industry, and are a key component of reconstructive medical and dental research as well as patient and animal care. The worldwide demand for biomaterials, currently estimated at $40 billion, is expected to grow substantially (10–20%/year) with an aging population.

 
Research Emphasis Areas

The CBTRR research is currently focused in the following areas:

• Basic and applied research on bioactive glass for the repair of hard and soft tissues
• Hollow microspheres and microparticles for controlled-release devices
• Rapid prototyping of bioactive glass for bone and joint repair
• Biosensors for in vitro and in vivo monitoring of bioactive glass conversion to a bone-like material

 Funding Sources

US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
National Institutes of Health
Missouri University of Science and Technology

 Research Collaboration

The CBTRR is a partner in a joint Consortium between Missouri S&T and the University of Missouri–Kansas City which was funded by the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC). The major focus of the Consortium is to develop implantable devices based on bioactive glass which could be used to repair traumatized bone and tissues, such as shattered limbs and broken bones suffered by soldiers in war or by other Americans in severe automobile accidents. Three-dimensional bioactive glass scaffolds currently under development have superior properties to currently available bone grafting materials.

The CBTRR also has collaborative research with the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) to develop tissue-engineered joints from cell-seeded hydrogels and bioactive glass which may ultimately be used in total joint replacement. These biologically-based systems are radically different from the synthetic hard metals and ceramics currently used to repair arthritic joints. The collaborative effort between the CBTRR and MU has shown that bioactive glass is a superior substrate to bone allograft for the repair of focal defects in rabbit knees, in terms of its ability to bond to adjacent host bone and supporting viable cartilage at the articular surface.  

 
Facilities

Facilities for preparing bioinert and bioactive ceramics and glasses, and converting these materials into structures with anatomical relevant shapes are available in the CBTRR. Facilities for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of biomaterials are available at Missouri S&T. The center is also involved in upgrading biomedical research infrastructure at Missouri S&T. A new micro-Raman spectrometer is being used to characterize surface changes in biomaterials exposed to physiological environments, and a modern cell culture lab is being set up to expand facilities for studying the interaction of biomaterials with cells.

Left: Bioactive glass microspheres with a special composition prepared in the CBTRR (bar = 500 micron). Right: Example of hollow hydroxyapatite (HA) microsphere formed from individual glass microspheres (left) by a patented process developed at Missouri S&T (bar = 50 micron). (The microsphere was deliberately broken to show the shell wall.)  Hydroxyapatite is the main mineral constituent of bone. Hollow HA microspheres and porous HA microparticles prepared by this unique process are being investigated in the CBTRR for applications as drug release devices and as scaffolds for improved treatment of periodontal disease and for bone repair.