Glass Scaffolds for Bone Implants

Engineers at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, have developed a glass-based scaffold that could one day be used as an implant to repair injured bones in the arms, legs, and other weight-bearing areas of the body. This marks the first time researchers have shown a glass implant strong enough to bear weight can also integrate with bone and promote bone growth, they say. Previously, they had developed a glass implant strong enough to handle the weight and pressure of repetitive movement, like walking or lifting. The difference is that this implant consists of porous scaffolding, which can also integrate with bone and promote bone growth. This combination of strength and bone growth opens new possibilities for bone repair, they say.