Scientists develop new prospective biomaterial

Kolkata, Jun 11: Scientists at Jadavpur University have found that zinc-doped hydroxyapatite (HAP), a calcium phosphate-based bioceramic material, has a stimulatory effect on bone formation. HAP is one of calcium phosphate-based bioceramic materials, which makes majority of the inorganic components of human bones and teeth.

"Zinc improves biological properties of synthetic HAP, decreases the inflammatory response, and has an antibacterial effect," joint director of the School of Bioscience and Engineering, Jadavpur University, Abhijit Chanda said.

Chanda said that the institute's

, while synthesising zinc-doped HAP powder using a simple wet chemical method have also observed that it showed high compressive strength and hardness than the conventional HAP. The new bone formation was more pronounced in doped HAP, following implantation on the tibia of an adult New Zealand rabbit for two months.

Histopathology also confirmed widespread formation of osteons around zinc-doped HAP. "We have done animal trials and now we will go for clinical trial. We hope the result will be very good," the scientist said.

Asked about other projects at the institute, he said that the scientists were developing materials (composition of HAP and beta Tricalcium phosphate) doped with zinc to be used for bone grafting. "It has also been found that the bonding with bone was better for zinc-doped bicalcium phosphate than conventional ceramics," Chanda said.

PTI