Little innovation has been made in the field of bone replacements that can facilitate bone integration over the last several decades, according to U.K. researchers. Now, the prize winner in a prestigious innovation competition for young entrepreneurs is aiming to change that.
Niall Kent, PhD, who is currently a postdoctoral researcher at University College London, has produced Aerograft, a synthetic material that is more effective than existing bone replacements and can also be tailored to specific procedures, according to the Royal Academy of Engineering. The material earned Kent the JC Gammon Launchpad Award in London. This award includes 15,000 pounds ($24,300) for his start-up company, also named Aerograft; membership of the academy's Enterprise Hub; and the chance to pitch to a number of leading U.K. business angel groups during the next year.
"Aerograft presents a significant and overdue improvement to existing bone substitutes" and could facilitate bone integration in nearly 600,000 dental operations worldwide each year, the academy stated in a press release announcing the award.
Designed specifically with dentistry grafts in mind, Aerograft could facilitate bone integration when a patient is missing bone, or when more bone is required for implant placement.
