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The BoneFix Consortium | July 8, 2025
The paper on fatigue behaviour of AdhFix is published on Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
The BoneFix team at the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) has published another paper in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. The paper describes fatigue behaviour of bone fixation patch technology on transverse fractures in ovine bone substrate. Forty proximal phalanges were dissected from skeletally mature female Swiss alpine sheep (age: 3.7 ± 1.1 years, weight: 73.6 ± 7.3kg) for this study. The ovine bones were dissected and stripped of all tissue, including the periosteum. Utilising AdhFix, a novel customisable light-curable bone fixation method, midshaft osteotomies were performed on ovine proximal phalanges, as shown in the figures below. To maintain hydration and mimic physiological conditions in bone samples, they were then wrapped in gauze soaked in electrolyte-rich Ringer’s solution.
(a) SolidWorks rendering of experimental setup with the sample submerged in Ringer’s solution & machine actuator
(b) Four-point bending fixture with a representative sample
To determine the lower and upper load limits ensuring survival and causing failure, the osteosyntheses were subjected to 12,600 cycles while submerged in a water bath at 37 degrees. The paper shows the probably of survival of the osteosynthesis at four different peak loads, ranging from 100% survival at a peak load of 93.5 N to 0% survival at a peak load of 233.8 N. The paper can be accessed via https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1515319/full. The data used in the paper has also been uploaded to an open data repository, which can be found at https://zenodo.org/records/13843571.
The BoneFix Consortium | May 6, 2025
The Paper on Injectable Dendritic Hydrogels in Bone Regeneration has been Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society
Researchers at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the University of Bergen (UiB) have developed a novel platform for an injectable bone scaffold hydrogel. The hydrogel cures in situ via high-energy visible (HEV) light-induced thiol-ene coupling (TEC) chemistry. In vitro cytocompatibility assessments have revealed the platform supports bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) viability and interactions, comparable to a control hydrogel gelatin methcryloyl (GelMA).
The newly developed hydrogel platform presents a highly tuneable solution, offering greater control over mechanical properties and degradation rates. The pivotal feature of curing in situ enables injection directly into the bone fracture for supported and accelerated bone tissue regeneration. Their work presents a promising approach for bone tissue regeneration, particularly in complex and shattered fractures above the critical length of natural bone tissue connectivity.
Central to the innovation is the precise and controlled synthesis of dendritic-linear-dendritic (DLD) building blocks. This enables the high tunability of the hydrogel’s mechanical properties and batch-to-batch consistency. By varying the batch’s generation of dendritic component, the number of allyl groups per DLD involved in TEC reactions are altered, allowing control over the crosslink density of the hydrogel.
In the paper published, different formulations of hydrogels were prepared to assess the influence of DLD generation and dry content across parameters such as gel swelling, degradation and storage modulus. To further enhance functional versatility of the platform, hydrogels were successfully incorporated with bioactive components hydroxyapatite microparticles or collagen. These modifications strengthen the potential of the DLD-based platform for applications beyond bone scaffolds, offering a customisable foundation for broader tissue engineering adaptations.
In vitro compatibility studies reflect that hydrogels’ support for viability and proliferation of BMSCs, whilst presenting a versatile and high-performing foundation for injectable biomaterials in regenerative medicine/ tissue engineering.The paper describing the injectable dendritic hydrogels can be accessed via https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5c00063. The data used in the paper has also been uploaded to an open data repository, which can be found at https://zenodo.org/records/13919543.
The BoneFix Consortium | April 24, 2025
The Paper on Photo-Curable Triazinetrione Composites is Published in the Journal of Applied Polymer Science
Researchers at KTH, led by Prof. Michael Malkoch and driven forward by Dr. Jorge San Jacinto Garcia, have developed a new generation of photo-curable composites with tunable degradation properties for the bone fixation patch domain. Their work has been published in the Journal of Applied Polymer Science as “Photo‐Curable Triazinetrione Composites with Tunable Degradation for Fracture Stabilisation and Flexible Thin‐Film Applications”
The materials address key limitations of conventional metal fracture fixation implants, including rigid geometry, lack of customisation, and absence of degradability. Designed as injectable, on-demand hardening composites, the new formulations can showcase bone-like mechanical properties while adapting to complex fracture geometries.
To enhance degradability, two routes were evaluated. Firstly, hydrolytically cleavable ester linkages were introduced into the polymer backbone. Secondly, inert hydroxyapatite (HA) was substituted with bioresorbable fillers such as bioactive glass (BG) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP). Different combinations of ester-containing monomers and fillers were systematically evaluated. The incorporation of a higher content of ester bonds resulted in materials with increased degradability to the expense of flexural modulus. This allows for the casting of flexible, degradable films that have potential for use in tissue engineering applications.
Optimisation of the filler content and type, as well as the ester linkages content allowed for an increased degradation rate, while still maintaining high flexural modulus (up to 6.4 GPa) and thermal stability above physiological temperature (45 °C). Preliminary cytotoxicity testing confirmed excellent cell viability. In mechanical fixation tests using synthetic and cadaver bone models, the degradable composites demonstrated comparable or superior load-bearing capacity to their non-degradable counterparts. These results highlight the potential of ester-containing TATO composites as a first class of biodegradable, high-performance alternatives for orthopaedic use. Further in-vivo evaluation is warranted to assess long-term degradation and clinical applicability.
“This research is highly important, as our innovative approaches will enable more patient-personalised treatments. Moreover, they address several limitations associated with traditional metal plates and screws. These include achieving mechanical properties more closely aligned with those of natural bone tissue, preventing soft tissue adhesion, and offering degradability.” Says Dr San Jacinto Garcia. “One of the most groundbreaking aspects of this work is the replacement of screws as the anchoring method. Previously, the technique was constrained by the size and quality of the bone. By using adhesive primers, we expand the applicability of bone-like composites to thinner bones and even to those compromised by osteoporotic processes.”
The paper describing the photo-curable composites can be accessed via https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/app.57068?af=R. The data used in the paper has also been uploaded to an open data repository, which can be found at https://zenodo.org/records/13887411.
The BoneFix Consortium | March 31, 2025
Upcoming PhD Defence on BoneFix: Transforming Fracture Treatment
We are pleased to announce the upcoming PhD defence of Jorge San Jacinto García, focusing on Photocurable Degradable Composites as Implantable Fixators. His research contributes to the broader efforts within the BoneFix consortium, which explores innovative approaches to fracture fixation.
BoneFix aims to address challenges associated with standard Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) procedures by developing adhesive-based solutions for stabilizing and protecting complex fractures. This approach has the potential to reduce reliance on metal implants and invasive surgery, ultimately improving patient outcomes and recovery times.
This project is made possible through the collaboration of leading researchers across Europe and funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Leading the initiative is Prof. Michael Malkoch from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, whose team is pioneering the development of cutting-edge adhesive technology. Prof. Kamal Mustafa at the University of Bergen is focusing on bone scaffold formulation and evaluation, while Prof. David Eglin at MINES St Étienne is driving the biological assessments and the development of an origami membrane for fixation. Dr. Peter Varga from AO Research Institute Davos is conducting mechanical assessments, and Dr. Christian Wong at Hvidovre University Hospital is leading preclinical evaluations. Prof. Camilla Svensson at the Karolinska Institute is assessing the pain response in comparison to traditional metal fixators. Last but not least, the commercialisation of BoneFix will be spearheaded by Biomedical Bonding AB, ensuring this groundbreaking technology reaches the market.
This defence marks an important step in advancing fracture treatment, and we invite you to join us in person or via Zoom for this discussion.
📍 Location: Kollegiesallen, Brinellvägen 6
💻 Zoom link: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/67806299673
We look forward to seeing you there!
The BoneFix Consortium | October 5, 2024
The consortium celebrates its first PhD defense!
The BoneFix team contains a number of young PhD researchers. The training of these students and their successful graduation are among the project’s many expected impacts. The consortium is therefore delighted that on the 14th June Guillaume Patt-Lafitte of MINES Saint-Etienne became the first BoneFix PhD student to successfully defend his thesis, which was titled “Design of a 4D-printed membrane intended as bone fixation patch.” He was supervised by Professor David Eglin.
Guillaume has been instrumental in the evaluation of the contribution the fiber component makes to the mechanical strength of the composite-based fixation patch. The team at KTH had previously shown that the inclusion of a layer of PET-fibre mesh in the composite patch resulted in a small increase in the maximum load withstood by the patch before failure. Guillaume expanded upon this result by investigating how one or multiple layers of the mesh influenced the curing efficiency, strength and durability of the patch as well as looking at the integration of the composite within the pores of the mesh using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). New 4D-printed meshes were then designed using degradable polymers capable of heat-induced shape changes, with the idea being that these meshes could wrap around the surface of the bone to provide extra stability to the fixation. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) was used to print the porous meshes. Different printing patterns were investigated with respect to strength, shape-memory properties and infiltration of the composite within the mesh.
The thesis demonstrates how FDM-based 3D printing can be used to produce degradable 4D membranes with spatially controlled reinforcement and shape-shifting properties. Such membranes have the potential to increase the mechanical competence of composite-based customizable fixations, such as those used in the BoneFix project. The thesis encompassed a wide range of scientific disciplines, from material formulation and mechanical characterization, to the exploration of ex vivo trials. “The most exciting aspect was merging the requirements of clinicians and chemistry, in order to develop new membranes,” explained Guillaume, “particularly through the use of a 4D printing process which is not commonly employed in practical material development.” Guillaume also enjoyed how the project involved collaborations across Europe. Now that the PhD is complete, Guillaume is continuing to work in academic research as a postdoc. We look forward to celebrating other PhD defenses from the BoneFix team in 2025.
Guillaume (3rd from left) on the day of his defense with supervisor Professor David Eglin (left), and members of his evaluation committee Professor Benjamin Nottelet (2nd from left, University of Montpellier) and Assoc. Professor Nathalie Douard (right, MINES)
The BoneFix Consortium | September 24, 2024
The ARI team asks how strong is strong enough for supporting early rehabilitation exercises
When it comes to treating hand and finger fractures, early rehabilitation is the key to avoiding joint stiffness and loss of mobility. Therefore, it is crucial that fracture fixation implants are strong enough to maintain alignment of the bone fractures during controlled flexing exercises. But how strong is strong enough? What are the loads exerted on a fractured bone during these exercises? There are papers in the literature that aim to externally measure the forces required to do every day exercises, such as opening a jar. But it is difficult to predict the actual bending load that the fixation implant experiences during a rehabilitation exercise. This challenge is addressed in the latest paper from the BoneFix consortium.
Led by Dr. Peter Schwarzenberg at AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), with contributions from the RegionH, KTH and BMB teams, the paper describes an experiment to determine the bending force exerted on an osteosynthesis of the proximal phalanx during a simple fingertip-to-palm exercise. Fractures with gaps were made in the proximal phalanges of human cadaver specimens, which were then fixated by plastic implants. The tendons of the phalanges were then pulled, causing the finger to flex and the plastic implant to bend. Flags attached to the implant allowed the bending to be monitored with a motion-tracking camera. Since the mechanical properties of the plastic implant were known, the value of the force could be determined from the extent of the bending using finite element (FE) models of the implants. The paper revealed that the average bending moment experienced by the implant during the fingertip to palm exercise was 6.78 ± 1.62 Nmm.
In addition, the team fixated proximal phalanx fractures, both with a gap and without, in the hand specimens with the same composite and screws technique used in the BoneFix project. The fixations were then subjected to the same fingertip-to-palm exercise. In all cases, the composite based fixations survived the exercise, even those maintaining a fracture with a gap. This suggested that the fixations could withstand the forces required for this simple rehabilitation exercise. The composite approach has several advantages over traditional metal plating, since the composite has been shown to not induce soft-tissue adhesions and the customizability and in situ curing of the composite does not restrict the positioning of the screws in the bone fragments or the shape of the implant; granting surgeons unparalleled freedom in the treatment of bone fractures.
“This study highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of the BoneFix team,” explained Peter, “with engineers, clinicians, and chemists working together, allowing us to investigate clinically relevant biomechanical questions with this novel platform. Additionally, the methods developed here can extend beyond the BoneFix project and help answer similar implant loading questions in different areas of the body.
“The paper, titled “Determination of the internal loads experienced by proximal phalanx fracture fixations during rehabilitation exercises” was published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, and can be found at https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1388399/full. The data from the paper is also available in an open access data repository at https://zenodo.org/records/10677536.
An example of the finite element model of a fractured proximal phalanx fixated with the plastic implant, which shows how the implant bent during the fingertip-to-palm exercise. The use of such models allowed the bending force exerted on the implant to be determined.
The BoneFix Consortium | August 15, 2024
Latest paper from KTH shows how degradation of composites can be enhanced through the inclusion of
allyl-functionalized polycarbonates
Degradable implants, which can be broken down and exerted by the body after bone healing, represent a giant leap forward in bone fracture fixation. Imagine if fracture patients no longer needed to be burdened by plates and screws for the rest of their lives. However, such implants would need to be carefully designed to ensure that their degradation does not compromise their ability to stabilize the bone fracture as it heals. Strong, slowly degrading materials are needed, and their development is one of the key aims of the BoneFix project. Previous fixation patches in BoneFix have been constructed with a composite consisting of allyl and thiol monomers and a high concentration of hydroxyapatite, which can be cured within seconds via thiol-ene coupling (TEC) chemistry. While this composite allows for strong and stiff fixations, it does not show any signs of degradability, either in vitro or in vivo.
In the latest paper from the BoneFix consortium, a team from KTH, led by PhD student Jorge San Jacinto Garcia, describes how including degradable polycarbonates within the bone fixation composite’s formulation increases the composite’s hydrolytic degradation without sacrificing its high flexural modulus or strength. The polycarbonates contain repeating isosorbide units and carbonate linkages, which can undergo hydrolytic cleavage. Jorge explains, “the decoration of these polycarbonates with allyl groups allows us to covalently incorporate them into the composite’s polymeric network via TEC chemistry.” Once embedded within the network, the polycarbonates allow for the slow degradation of the composite, which was noticeable over an 8-week period in static in vitro conditions simulating physiological pH and temperature.
Jorge evaluated the impact that the inclusion of these polycarbonates had on the mechanical properties of the composites during hydrolytic degradation over 8-weeks. He also used the new polycarbonate-infused composites to fixate osteotomies on synthetic bones using the AdhFix technique; an innovative approach that involves inserting screws into bone fragments and then constructing a plate around and over these screws in situ with the composite. The system is then cured with high energy visible light to give a strong, rigid fixation. When tested with four-point bending, the new degradable composites showed similar bending stiffness and strength values to the previously studied non-degradable composite. “The use of these degradable composites for fracture fixation implants could reduce the burden of fracture treatments and the recovery time of patients,” explains Jorge, “as their degradation would remove the need for any removal surgery after bone healing.”
The paper, titled “Enhanced Degradability of Thiol–Ene Composites through the Inclusion of Isosorbide-Based Polycarbonates” was published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, and can be found at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.4c09626. The data from the paper can also be found in the following open access data repository: https://zenodo.org/records/12689371.
The BoneFix Consortium | July 8, 2024
The BoneFix Antibacterial hydrogel (Domain 3) is Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society
Researchers at KTH, led by Dr. Natalia Sanz del Olmo, have been developing the antibacterial hydrogel domain of BoneFix and now their work has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The paper, titled “Antibacterial Hydrogel Adhesives Based on Bifunctional Telechelic Dendritic-Linear-Dendritic Block Copolymers” describes how heterofunctional dendritic-linear-dendritic (DLD) polymers with both cationic charges and alkene groups were used to formulate adhesive and antibacterial hydrogels. The cationic charges allow the hydrogel to disrupt the negatively charged cell wall of the bacteria, while the alkene functional groups allow for the crosslinking of the DLDs together with dithiol crosslinkers into hydrogel networks through high-energy visible (HEV) light induced thiol-ene coupling (TEC) reactions. The use of TEC reactions for constructing the hydrogels allowed the KTH team to change the crosslink density of the hydrogels by simply altering the ratio of the DLD to the dithiol crosslinker, without affecting the number of cationic charges per DLD. Interesting, they found that the activity of the hydrogels against bacteria was impacted by the alkene to thiol ratio. The alkene groups also allowed for the incorporation of other species into the hydrogel through TEC chemistry, such as the cationic molecule cysteamine, which enhanced the activity of the hydrogel towards S. aureus.
In addition to showing activity against both gram positive and negative bacteria, the hydrogels were also highly adhesive to a variety of surfaces, including the hydroxyapatite composite used in the bone fixation patch domain of BoneFix. In the future, the antibacterial hydrogel could be applied on top of the fixation patch and cured to create a top coating, preventing surgical site infections. “Due to the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance, the development of new alternatives to conventional antibiotics is crucial” says Dr. Sanz del Olmo. Furthermore, the heterofunctional nature of the DLD, together with the ability to incorporate other biologically interesting molecules is “an interesting feature, which allows for the fine-tuning of the hydrogel properties based on the intended application.”
The paper describing the domain 3 hydrogel can be found at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jacs.4c03673. The data used in the paper has been uploaded to an open data repository, which can be found at https://zenodo.org/records/11442132.
The BoneFix Consortium | July 8, 2024
KTH hosts another successful BoneFix annual meeting
The original plan was for the consortium coordinators KTH to host the first BoneFix annual meeting in Stockholm. Unfortunately, this was back in 2020 and covid-19 forced that first meeting to be held online. However, on the 6th and 7th May, the KTH BoneFix team was finally able to welcome the consortium to Stockholm for the fifth BoneFix annual meeting. Sixteen delegates joined the meeting in person at the Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology with several others calling in online.
The agenda included the usual work package presentations, where each technical manager updated the consortium on recent technical progress. The consortium has been busy since we last met in Davos, with multiple in vivo studies and mechanical evaluations ongoing or recently completed along with further development of the primer and degradable composites for use in the bone fixation patch. The consortium also discussed the time line for the remaining project activities and future plans for furthering the research beyond the BoneFix project. A tour was given through the labs of the Division of Coating Technology, where all the chemicals used in BoneFix have been synthesized and where the formulations for the bone scaffold hydrogels, fixation patch primers and composites and the antibacterial hydrogel have been developed and undergone initial evaluations of their mechanical properties. During a workshop, the consortium brought all three of the BoneFix domains together to fixate complex fractures in animal bones, with much discussion of the best ways to apply the domains in a clinical environment.
Since BoneFix is entering its final year, this will be the last in-person consortium-wide annual meeting. It seemed appropriate to end the meeting with some reflections. The consortium has enjoyed working on this immensely ambitious project, which involves the development and integration of radical new technologies for bone regeneration, osteosynthesis and protection against bacterial infections. Much has been accomplished, and the consortium looks forward to sharing the many more exciting results that are still to come from the BoneFix project.
The BoneFix Consortium | February 15, 2024
Latest paper from the BoneFix consortium describes the benefits from combining fiber membranes and the fixation patch composite
The BoneFix team at MINES St Etienne have just published a paper in the Journal of Materials Research and Technology. Titled “Toughening and strengthening of visible light-cured hydroxyapatite thiol-ene resin composite intended as bone fixation using 2D textile” the paper describes how the hydroxyapatite/polymer fixation patch composite used in BoneFix can be reinforced with layers of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fiber meshes. Previous studies at KTH have shown the advantages of including PET meshes in the thiol-ene based composite fixation patch technology, but the impact of the meshes had not been fully mechanically characterized until this latest paper. Tensile and bending testing, micro-computed tomography and Raman spectroscopy showed that there was good impregnation of the PET mesh with the thiol-ene resin composite. The presence of the mesh did not affect the high energy visible light curing process and the mesh increased the energy to fracture of the fixation patch.
The main author of the paper, PhD student Guillaume Patt-Lafitte, said that “the woven conformation of the PET mesh, which allows for frictional sliding behavior, resulted in a load support after failure of the matrix.” He also stated that in the context of hand fractures, this loading support from the mesh could “contribute to fewer post-surgical complications related to the breaking of the composite material.” The paper was supervised by Professor David Eglin and is available open access from Elsevier (doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.01.127).
The BoneFix Consortium | December 19, 2023
Research Fellow Paula Cameron will be conducting cyclic testing on the fixation patch at ARI
Throughout the BoneFix project, AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) has conducted mechanical evaluations on the fixation patch component of BoneFix. These tests have investigated the tolerance of bone fractures fixated with metal screws and composite patches towards bending and torsional forces. Thus far the tests have been monotonic, i.e. the fracture has been loaded until failure. Now ARI is evaluating the ability of the fixation patch to withstand cyclic loading in order to determine the fatigue properties of the fixation. Conducting the testing at ARI is Paula Cameron, a non-medical research fellow and new member of the BoneFix team.
Originally from Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, Paula completed her Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Physics at the University of BC in nearby Vancouver. She then completed a master’s degree at the University of Bern in Switzerland, where she specialized in biomechanics; investigating how the soft tissues of the hip can absorb the impact force experienced during a sideways fall. She has since moved to Davos to join the ARI team. Her main interest in the BoneFix project is the opportunity to get hands-on experience with a novel osteosynthesis technique. “I think it’s fascinating that the patches can be applied in a customizable way and could stay in the body after the bone is healed.”
Outside of work, Paula is looking forward to learning to ski during her first winter in Davos. She also enjoys outdoor sports so will no doubt enjoy her time at ARI. We look forward to posting an update about the outcome of the cyclic testing in 2024.
The BoneFix Consortium | November 7, 2023
New publication – AdhFix mechanically superior
Do not miss this intriguing publication in this fine magazine, Veterinary Surgery 2023:1-9! Here, AdhFix was tested and found to be mechanically superior to K-wires and comparable to plate fixation for adjunctive fixation in a lateral humeral condylar model. Humeral condylar fractures are commonly encountered in veterinary surgery (especially dogs). We are excited to push forward this innovative solution for commercial use.
Learn more: http://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14048
The BoneFix Consortium | November 7, 2023
Finalist AAOS 2024
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) has selected Biomedical Bondings as one of the four finalists for the upcoming OrthoPitch competition, presented by AAOS and foundational sponsor MCRA. It is a very prestigious event that will take place in San Francisco, February 2024. Biomedical Bonding is part of the BoneFix consortium. This is a great opportunity to communicate and present results related to our novel and innovative orthopaedic solutions to an American audience.
The BoneFix Consortium | October 4, 2023 Edited October 5, 2023
New article on surgeons constructing the customisable composite fixation plate Adhfix
The BoneFix project builds on light-cured on-site customisable implant innovations that have the potential to improve the surgical outcome in bone fracture or restoration surgeries. Within the project Biomedical Bonding's Bonevolent™ AdhFix is used as the first fixator plate made in surgery from a light-cured composite, to enable patient-specific plates contoured for each individual fracture. For a fracture fixator implant, mechanical durability is of major importance and a customisable implant must meet the required load-bearing capacity each time. Thus, it is critical that the method of creating an AdhFix plate is easy to learn and reliably provides plates that perform as intended.
Here, a study conducted in the BoneFix project led by surgeons from Region H in Copenhagen and biomechanical researchers at AO Research Institute in Davos assesses the inter- and intra-surgeon biomechanical variability and usability of the AdhFix osteosynthesis platform. Six surgeons, ranging from specialists to novices, conducted ten osteosyntheses each with AdhFix on a synthetic bone fracture model and the mechanical performance, implant size and time to complete the fixation were analysed.
The on-site sculpturing and light-curing concept were no match for the surgeons, making plates with consistent biomechanical stability and only slight variations were noted in between surgeons.
“This was a very interesting study to perform, since the investigation of variability in relation to biomechanical properties is not very common in this field of science. However, with novel customizable fracture fixation techniques, these types of analyses are becoming increasingly relevant”, says Thomas Colding-Rasmussen, orthopaedic surgeon at Region H.
Read more about the study and results at:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/10/1146
The BoneFix Consortium | September 19, 2023
ESB 2023 and BonFix consortium meeting in Davos
Several members of the BoneFix consortium recently attended the 33rd annual conference of the European Society of Biomaterials (ESB) in Davos, Switzerland. From the 4th till the 8th September, members of the team showcased their work with posters and oral presentations. Biomedical Bonding were also present as a start-up co-sponsor and received much interest at their display table.
Kamal Mustafa (UiB) gave the key-note address in a session focusing on functional biomaterials for musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, which was chaired by Michael Malkoch and Daniel Hutchinson (KTH). Daniel also gave a presentation on the thiol-ene composite that is used in BoneFix’s domain 2 fixation patch; while Nanett Kvist (RegionH) introduced the new sheep animal model that BoneFix will be working with and explained how high animal welfare standards will be upheld throughout the project. Posters covering everything from the cytocompatability of the BoneFix domain 1 hydrogel to the mechanical properties of the PET fibers used in the fixation patch were presented by Francesco Torelli (UiB), Noemi Molina (KTH), Peter Schwarzenberg (ARI), Jorge San Jacinto (KTH) and Guillaume Patt-Lafitte (MINES).
The weather was fantastic throughout the conference; with sunny skies and barely a cloud in sight. This allowed the attendees to enjoy the many activities that Davos had to offer; including a walk around the beautiful Davos lake or enjoying the views from atop the Jakobshorn and Parseen mountains. After the meeting wrapped up, it was straight on to the BoneFix annual meeting, which was also held in Davos at the AO Research Institute. The meeting was fruitful. As professor Michael Malkoch states, “with more than one year left of the project, the consortium has now reached a critical scientific mass to be validated in large animals. All partners have, since the project started, been committed to fueling the consortium with expertise and supporting each other in joint work packages”. The in-depth talks and study that was conducted clearly illustrates a promising future.
The BoneFix Consortium | June 16, 2023
New scientific article on the mechanical performance of AdhFix
The BoneFix consortium has published a scientific article regarding the novel fracture fixation implant AdhFix, based on research led by AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) and surgeons from RegionH in Copenhagen. AdhFix is a resin-based composite that is shaped to a fixation plate at the fracture site and hardened on-command using LED-light pulses. This new concept would enable customized plates for each individual fracture and allow for a new perspective on how to conduct fracture treatment. The work presented in the article has focused on the collection and analysis of biomechanical data to establish a foundation on the performance of AdhFix in relation to corresponding metal plate fixations. The study includes bending and torsion testing of ovine (sheep) phalangeal fracture models that are fully reduced as well as fracture models with an induced osteotomy gap to evaluate the features of the implant.
Follow this link to read the full article: https://rdcu.be/dd3Zt
The BoneFix Consortium | March 15, 2023
KTH develops new antibacterial hydrogel for protection against surgical site infections
All surgeries carry a risk of bacterial infection. These surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a serious health risk to patients as they can result in increased physiological stress, prolonged hospitalization and an increased chance of morbidity. This is why the BoneFix project will include an antibacterial hydrogel, which will be applied as a top coating over the fixation patch, to protect the patient from surgical site infections. The research team at KTH have recently completed the formulation of this hydrogel, which includes cationically charged dendritic-linear-dendritic polymers. The high concentration of cationic charges on these polymers allows them to kill bacteria by disrupting their negatively charged cell membranes. Importantly, this mode of antibacterial action does not require the use of antibiotics; therefore, the use of these polymers will not contribute to the growing threat of emerging antibiotic resistant bacteria strains.
In addition to cationic charges, the dendritic-linear-dendritic polymers contain allyl functional groups, allowing for their curing with thiol crosslinking polymers through thiol-ene coupling chemistry. The hydrogel solution is simply applied to the top of the fixation patch and cured with the same high-energy visible light emitting lamp that is used to cure the fixation patch and bone scaffold hydrogel technologies of BoneFix. The use of thiol-ene coupling chemistry to cure all three of the BoneFix domains will allow surgeons to efficiently and simply make bone restoration patches without needing to master multiple curing techniques.
The team at KTH looks forward to demonstrating the antibacterial hydrogel together with the other BoneFix domains on various bone fractures later in the project. KTH and the consortium partner Biomedical Bonding AB are also developing prototype product kits for the delivery and application of the hydrogel.
The BoneFix Consortium | February 24, 2023
Introducing new representative Exploration Board and Steering Committee
Evelina Mikaelson is taking over the role as Biomedical Bonding’s (BMB) representative on the BoneFix Exploitation Board and Steering Committee.
Evelina joined BMB in 2023 as the new CEO. Evelina Mikaelson has an M.Sc. from Uppsala University in business, economics, and law and she has extensive experience in business development, strategy, and management from previous positions. Most recently she holds an executive position within explorative digital development and innovation at The Agency for Digital Government.Evelina will assist the consortium by developing its communication and exploitation strategies as well as by creating contacts with key stakeholders.
The BoneFix Consortium | December 14, 2022
Welcome to Nanett Kvist, the latest member of the BoneFix RegionH team
The BoneFix project is reaching its final phase, where the beyond state of the art bone scaffold and composite fixation patches will be evaluated in sophisticated live animal models. RegionH will be testing the BoneFix materials in a sheep fracture model and leading that study is BoneFix’s newest team member: veterinarian and doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) Nanett Kvist. Nanett will conduct the sheep study at the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen under the supervision of Professor DVM PhD ECVS Stine Jacobsen.
Nanett started veterinary school with the initial goal of being a “field veterinarian in rubber boots” but she became intrigued by research during her first years of study. Since then went on to complete a masters thesis focusing on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived neurons and ultrastructural phenotypes of a human neurodegenerative diseases. Recently she has completed her PhD thesis titled “Antibiotic treatment – what’s the (break)point?“ which was the culmination of an industrial PhD focusing on rationalizing and optimizing antibiotic treatment in the veterinary field. During the PhD Nanett was employed at Kopenhagen Fur a.m.b.a in Glostrup, Denmark, and conducted research at the Technical University of Denmark in Lyngby.
With regards to the animal studies in BoneFix, Nanett stresses that the important factors are ensuring high animal welfare, while also delivering good quality research whose outcome is valid and useable. This is an interesting challenge, which combined with the interdisciplinary, international consortium and a clearly defined end goal made BoneFix a compelling project.
Outside of work, Nanett loves being outdoors, whether riding through the woods on horseback or in the garden with her family. We welcome Nanett to the team and look forward to sharing the eventual results from the upcoming BoneFix animal studies.
The BoneFix Consortium | November 28, 2022
Novel light-cured implants from a surgeon’s perspective
On the picture, from left: Thomas Colding-Rasmussen (Region H), Jorge San Jacinto Garcia (KTH), Peter Schwarzenberg (ARI) and Ulrik Birgersson (BMB).
As part of BoneFix’s continued evaluation of adaptable light-cured implants for bone fixation, surgeons Thomas Colding-Rasmussen and Christian Wong from RegionH in Copenhagen decided to investigate the novel concept from a usability perspective. Five surgeons with varying degrees of experience were gathered together and taught how to make fixation patches for the first time. The reproducibility of the procedure and the learning curve of each surgeon were investigated by evaluating the mechanical properties of the resulting patches, with support from Peter Schwarzenberg from AO Research Institute Davos (ARI).
From a surgeon’s point of view any new technology should be safe and effective as well as easy to use in current practice. In the case of light-cured composites for fracture fixation, their intrinsic adaptability could certainly be an advantage; however, it induces an aspect of uncertainty given that surgeons will customize patient specific fixation plates during surgery.
To ensure that a new technology is incorporated into everyday practice there must be supportive evidence that the application and curing procedure is not too complicated and that the final plate ensures sufficient support of the fracture.
The aim of the usability study is to establish a baseline on what to expect when transferring the fixation concept from research to end-users. The study is expected to reveal important insights into potential end user variability.
Visiting the site as technology experts were also the BoneFix partners Jorge San Jacinto Garcia PhD-student at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Ulrik Birgersson Head of Clinical and Medical Affairs at Biomedical Bonding AB (BMB).
The BoneFix Consortium | September 29, 2022
UiB Team visits KTH to discuss ongoing and future collaborations
On Wednesday 21st September, Professor Kamal Mustafa and five members of his University of Bergen research team journeyed from Norway to KTH in Stockholm, Sweden to meet with Professor Michael Malkoch and his researchers. The aim of the meeting with to discuss the ongoing collaboration on the development of a bone scaffold hydrogel in the BoneFix project but also to explore the possibilities of strengthening the collaborations between the two teams. After a full day’s program of presentations, discussions and lab demonstrations it was clear that the two teams can bring complimentary skills in the field of tissue engineering. Some of the topics discussed included KTH’s hydrogels based on dendritic polymers and their tough and rigid light-curable bone fixation composites, and UiB’s many evaluation methods for studying hydrogels designed to accelerate bone regeneration including in vivo rodent calvarial and long-bone defect models and in vitro degradation testing in a bioreactor. KTH also demonstrated the rapid on-demand curing of several of the hydrogels and the bone fixation composite in their laboratory. By combining KTH’s expertise in polymer synthesis and material and UiB’s innovative in vitro and in vivo evaluation techniques, there is great potential for expanding the activities within the BoneFix project and beyond in the exciting field of tissue regenerative materials
The BoneFix Consortium | September 16, 2022
The BoneFix project delivers new insights in fracture stabilisation.
The team outside AO Research Institute Davos, (from left to right) Peter Varga (ARI), Daniel Hutchinson (KTH), Viktor Granskog (BMB), Jorge San Jacinto Garcia (KTH), Peter Schwarzenberg (ARI), Thomas Colding-Rasmussen (Hvidovre Hospital).
The biomechanical aspects of fracture treatment are an important consideration when aiming to generate stable fixation for bone healing. In mid-August researchers from the BoneFix consortium visited the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI) in Switzerland to collect novel data on the loads acting on the hand under physiological conditions. The team at ARI, with work led by Peter Varga and implemented by Peter Schwarzenberg, has developed a biomechanical testing setup to simulate rehabilitation exercises and establish new knowledge of loading scenarios aiming to enhance the understanding of what forces an osteosynthesis device needs to withstand.
This is important data for the BoneFix project to enable assessments in a clinically relevant situation and comparison of the BoneFix technology with metal-based fixations. The ground-breaking work performed at ARI is a much-needed step towards validation of any novel fracture fixation implant based on materials that cannot compete with the often unnecessarily high strength of metals but that can still be sufficiently strong for fracture stabilisation for selected applications. In an expanded view, this will allow for the development of implants based on more adaptable, active and compatible materials than those existing today.
In addition to the ARI team, participating in Davos were surgeons Thomas Colding-Rasmussen from and Tine Weis from RegionH (Denmark), project coordinator Daniel Hutchinson and Jorge San Jacinto Garcia from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) and Viktor Granskog from Biomedical Bonding AB (Sweden).
The BoneFix Consortium | August 11, 2022
The BoneFix consortium comes together again for another successful annual meeting
On the 20th and 21st June 2022, participants from the BoneFix consortium met up in Bergen, Norway for BoneFix’s second in-person annual meeting, hosted by Kamal Mustafa and his team of researchers at the Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen (UiB). The meeting program started with the usual series of work package presentations, where the technical managers from each consortium partner gave an update on the progress and current challenges of their work packages. However, the main part of the program was a series of consortium-wide discussions on specific topics, ranging from the current state of the project’s dissemination items to the specific timeline for the upcoming ex vivo and in vivo evaluation studies of the different BoneFix domains. The involvement of all participants resulted in a lot of fruitful back-and-forth debate, leading to a more defined road-map for the upcoming third year of the project.
The discussions and presentations on the first day were broken up by a tour through the Department of Clinical Dentistry. PhD students and postdocs from Kamal’s research group demonstrated their sophisticated lab setup including 3D printers, a bioreactor and micro-CT scanner, all of which will prove invaluable to the tasks of work package 2, where the bone restoration activity of the bone scaffold domain will be evaluated. At the end of the first day, dinner was served at the top of Mount Ulriken, 643 meters above sea level! Fortunately, a quick trip on the Ulriken Cablecar spared everyone the long hike up the mountain to Skyskraperen Restaurant.
The second day of the meeting included discussions on the exploitation of expected results and management of the project, before ending with a steering committee meeting. Afterwards, several members of the consortium took the opportunity to see a little of Bergen’s beautiful old Bryggen area before flying home. Socially and professionally, the annual meeting was a complete success. As in St Etienne the previous year, the consortium relished the opportunity to discuss, work, and enjoy each other’s company face-to-face. More frequent study visits are planned for 2022 and 2023 between the BoneFix partners, including visits by RegionH, KTH and BMB to ARI in August. The whole consortium will meet again at next year’s annual meeting, which will be hosted by Peter Varga and his ARI team in Davos, Switzerland in September 2023.
The participants from the BoneFix consortium outside the Department of Clinical Dentistry, UiB.
David Eglin (MINES) presenting some of his team’s results from work package 3.
PhD Student Ying Xue, from Kamal’s group at UiB, demonstrates the microCT scanner.
The consortium at the top of Mount Ulriken prior to dinner at Skyskraperen Restaurant.
Project Director Michael Malkoch (KTH) thanks the consortium for their efforts and toasts the success of the project and the annual meeting during dinner.
Special thanks to Kamal and his team at UiB for an excellent job hosting the consortium at this meeting.
The BoneFix Consortium | June 17, 2022
Researchers at MINES are screening novel BoneFix components to ensure their safety
Due to its intended application as a bone fixation and restoration technology, BoneFix is considered as an implantable medical device. As such, the BoneFix domains and their individual components must undergo careful biocompatibility tests to screen any potential toxicity on living cells and tissues, and thus ensure potential safe and effective use in humans. reeAt MINES Saint-Etienne, France, all the new chemical entities developed in the BoneFix consortium are being evaluated in vitro, following ISO standards, to ensure that they are harmless to cells. Dr Léa Dejob is leading this task and performs cell culture experiments and biochemical assays revealing any concentration dependent cytotoxicity or toxic by-products.
For instance, Live/Dead staining enables the direct discrimination of alive and dead cells via observation of the cultures under a fluorescent microscope. Briefly, after being exposed to BoneFix components, cells are incubated with a mixture of two dyes: one of them (calcein) can penetrate the cells, but will only be converted to a green-fluorescent compound by an enzyme found in living cells. The second fluorescent dye (ethidium homodimer III) can only penetrate cells that have lost their membrane integrity, and therefore labels dead cells in red by intercalating in their DNA. In parallel tests, cell death is also monitored by the quantification of lactate deshydrogenase (LDH) released by the cells in the culture media when they lose their membrane integrity. Another test is based on the ability of metabolically active cells to reduce a non-fluorescent dye (resazurin) into a highly fluorescent one (resorufin). Metabolic activity of the cells is then estimated by the intensity of fluorescence.
Once the cytocompatibility of the BoneFix building blocks is confirmed, preclinical proof of concept studies can be conducted by the other BoneFix consortium partners.
The BoneFix Consortium | May 3, 2022
BoneFix initiates biomechanical testing at ARI with an orthopaedic surgeon from RegionH
The BoneFix platform is a paradigm shift from traditional metal implants. As with any medical device, the highest level of scrutiny must be applied to ensure it performs as designed when it is eventually used in the clinic with patients. In the field of orthopaedics, one of the most critical parameters that must be evaluated is its biomechanical performance.
During the last 6 months AO Research Institute (ARI), in Davos Switzerland and RegionH hospital, in Copenhagen Denmark have collaborated in performing the initial mechanical evaluation of the load-bearing criteria for BoneFix. ARI possesses a world-class biomechanical testing facility and expertise from decades of cutting-edge orthopaedic research. These capabilities are coupled with the surgical expertise of the team at RegionH. This partnership has been enabled by the BoneFix project and is being driven by the close collaboration between Peter Schwarzenberg, a post-doc at ARI, and Thomas Colding-Rasmussen, an orthopaedic surgeon from RegionH. The team is supervised by Peter Varga, a focus area leader at ARI, and Christian Wong, a consulting orthopaedic surgeon at RegionH.
The team has developed robust biomechanical testing procedures to evaluate the novel, customizable BoneFix platform. These techniques utilize electromechanical testing machines, stereographic motion tracking cameras, micro-CT scanners, and specimen-specific computer simulations to thoroughly evaluate the intricate fixation system. Osteosyntheses are created on an ovine phalanx model before loading the fixation in different modes and measuring how it responds
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The collaboration is very rewarding and we can utilize each other’s competencies in developing these mechanical evaluation setups.
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– Thomas Colding-Rasmussen, an orthopaedic surgeon.
Through this work, Biomedical Bonding’s adaptable composite fixator AdhFix has been used as an early testing substitute to the BoneFix fixation system and has shown biomechanical results comparable to traditional metal plates, with vast potential to improve patient care.
BoneFix is an exciting technology that has great potential from a biomechanical point of view. The collaboration that has formed between ARI and RegionH has been vital in tackling these challenging new problems
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– Peter Schwarzenberg, PhD.
The team is now ready to test BoneFix prototypes as they have developed in the project as well as the final platform when all 3 domains will come together.
The BoneFix Consortium | March 24, 2022
Hydrogel scaffolds for cells are under the microscope at UiB
The new ostheosynthesis paradigm proposed by BoneFix aims to overcome current limitations associated with metal plate and screw fixation, namely in terms of defect size regeneration and cost-effectiveness of treatment for trauma and osteolytic lesions. But what is really happening at the interfaces between the fractured bone and the material filling the void? At the University of Bergen (UiB), PhD research fellow Francesco Torelli and post-doc Ahmad Rashad Elsebahy, under the vigilant supervision of Prof. Kamal Mustafa, have started to investigate the bioactive hydrogel which will constitute the osteosupportive matrix for bone regeneration. In the past few weeks, the Tissue Engineering group at UiB has launched its project task to evaluate the cytocompatibility and cell viability of human Bone Marrow Stem Cells (hBMSCs) embedded into the hydrogel material developed at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The model studied at UiB is based on small aliquots of the photo-tuneable and cell-embedded hydrogels which are then grown in cell lab conditions and analysed via TIRF microscopy, qPCR and fluorescent-based concentration assays apt to minimize and eradicate any eventual toxicity at the cell-material interface. Data concerning proliferation, cell morphologies, viability and cytocompatibility, apoptosis markers, and gene expression profiles in undifferentiated and osteodifferentiating cells are collected and combined with rheological information coming from the other Consortium partners.
As stated by the Tissue Engineering group:
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BoneFix has the potential to positively impact patient's well-being and create value for many end-users. We are still in a primordial stage of our investigation, but the findings collected so far, even if just a glimpse of what could be obtained, are very promising
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The bone-regenerative hydrogel will be optimised and evaluated in in vitro and in vivo studies by KTH and UiB throughout 2022, after which it will be combined with the fixation patch and antibacterial hydrogel domains of BoneFix for further pre-clinical testing.
The BoneFix Consortium | February 17, 2022
Steering Committee as representative for Biomedical Bonding AB
Lena Söderström is taking over the role as Biomedical Bonding’s (BMB) representative on the BoneFix Exploitation Board and Steering Committee.
Lena has over 30 years’ experience in management positions in international pharmaceutical and medical device companies, and is currently on the board of several life science companies, innovation holding companies as well as the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.
Lena joined BMB in 2021 and is excited to be a part of the development of this new implant technology. Being a productive and engaged leader with vast experience in the field, BMB saw it as a logical step to offer Lena to be part of BoneFix. She will help the project to grow and reach out to the medical device and general community. Lena will also assist the consortium by developing its communication and exploitation strategies as well as by creating contacts with key stakeholders.
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It is a great opportunity for me to learn new things and get valuable insights from this multidisciplinary project with leading researchers from so many fields. I believe the technology that BMB and BoneFix are developing is the future of fracture treatment and I am so excited to be part of the journey
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Lena will take part in BMB’s activities in WP9 and guide the project in areas of her expertise
The BoneFix Consortium | January 25, 2022
Introducing Francesco Torelli, a PhD student working on the bone scaffold domain of BoneFix
An integral part of the University of Bergen BoneFix team is PhD student Francesco Torelli. In the project, Francesco is focused on the investigation, biofabrication and in vitro and in vivo characterization of the stem-cell instructive photo-curable hydrogel scaffolds for segmental and critical size bone defects which will make up domain 1 of BoneFix.
Originally from Jesi, Italy, Francesco has a background in dentistry and is an Italian licensed Special Needs Dentist and Craniofacial Biologist. In 2018 he was awarded a degree summa cum laude in Dental Medicine from Marche Polytechnic University in Ancona, Italy, where he was supervised by Angelo Putignano and Mauro Merli. Following his degree, he stayed in Ancona to practice in public dentistry for special needs patients at the Italian National Centre of Excellence for Osteonecrosis of the Jaws. Francesco won a scholarship from the Italian Society of Special Needs Dentistry, after which he moved to the UK to obtain a masters degree from the Centre of Regenerative and Craniofacial Biology at King’s College London, which he finished in 2020. He then began his PhD with the Tissue Engineering Group at the University of Bergen in June 2021.
It was the multidisciplinary aspect of Tissue Engineering which attracted Francesco to the field. The BoneFix project gives him the chance to work with chemical engineers, material scientists, cell and development biologists and signaling experts on a daily basis. The potential applications of the BoneFix technology is also of great interest to Francesco, who sees the technology as a “beneficial tool for a wide range of patients, creating additional value to the current clinical landscape.”
Outside of the lab, Francesco is engaged in side projects in Philosophy and Sociology of Science, focusing on the sociotechnical imaginaries of biofabrication. He is also extremely into Sci-Fi and Fantasy pop culture and considers the visionary Sci-Fi author Michael Crichton as his first mentor.
The BoneFix Consortium | October 29, 2021
Introducing Léa Dejob, a postdoc in the MINES BoneFix team
Joining the BoneFix team at MINES St-Etienne this year is postdoc Léa Dejob. Léa is focused on creating a biodegradable membrane to replace the non-degradable polyethylene terephthalate, which is currently used as the fibre component in the BoneFix fixation patch. With this new membrane, in addition to changes to the fixation composite, it is hoped that a new fixation patch can be made which will be fully resorbed by the body after bone healing has occurred. Hopefully the new membranes will be able to enhance the mechanical properties of the fixation patch as well.
Before working on BoneFix, Léa completed her PhD in Lyon, France, which was co-supervised by Laboratory MATEIS at the National Institute of Applied Science and the Laboratory of Multimaterials and Interfaces at the University of Lyon. Her project involved the development of ceramic coatings for implants made from bioactive glass or calcium phosphate, which were designed to increase the osteo-integration of the implant and thereby reduce its chance of loosening. Micro-sized filaments of the coatings were made via electrospinning and electro-wiring processes, in order to mimic the architecture of collagen fibrils present in bone extracellular matrix.
Léa finds the BoneFix project particularly interesting as it has the potential to improve people’s well-being and health. The multi-disciplinary consortium also provides a clear opportunity to learn from experts in chemistry, biology, mechanics and clinical surgery. When not in the lab, Léa enjoys artistic pursuits such as playing piano, drawing and painting. “I think science is just another field where one can explore and express their creativity. But science can also help us to understand the world we live in!”
The BoneFix Consortium | October 11, 2021
Edited October 29, 2021
The consortium meets face-to-face for the first time at BoneFix’s second meeting in Saint Étienne
The sun was shining and the discussion was flowing all throughout the BoneFix second annual meeting in Saint Étienne, France. Fourteen participants representing six of the seven BoneFix consortium partners, were joined by the independent ethics advisor in Saint Étienne over the 30th of September and the 1st of October. Participants from the Karolinska Institute and Stine Jacobsen from the University of Copenhagen took part in the meeting remotely. Due to restrictions from covid-19, this meeting was the first opportunity for the consortium to finally meet each other in person and the delegates made the most of this interaction by filling the two-day program with simulating discussions and presentations describing the progress made thus far in each work package. Everyone also got some hands-on experience with the current primer and composite systems developed by KTH Royal Institute of Technology during a workshop in which the delegates constructed fixation patches on fractured porcine metacarpal bones. The meeting was hosted by David Eglin and his team at MINES, who gave a tour of their department at the Centre for Healthcare Engineering. After a long day focused on the project, everyone had the chance to bond socially over some lovely French cuisine.
The meeting ended with a steering committee meeting in the beautiful historical campus building of École des Mines de Saint-Étienne and a tour of the current Antarctica exhibition at the science outreach centre La Rotonde. Overall, the meeting was a success, with all delegates participating in and benefiting from a highly collaborative and social environment that can only be achieved face-to-face. Special thanks are given to David, Lea and Guillaume at MINES for hosting the meeting, choosing the great restaurants and for ensuring that no-one got lost while navigating between the hotel and the venues. We all look forward to seeing each other again at the next meeting which will be hosted by the University of Bergen team next June in Norway.
Peter Varga (ARI) with his newly fixated bone.
One of the many fixation patches which were made on porcine metacarpal bone during the workshop.
David Eglin (MINES) provided a tour of the Centre for Healthcare Engineering at MINES St Étienne, including an explanation of their state-of-the-art system for producing hydroxyapatite.
Peter Schwarzenberg (ARI) explains the exciting ways that the mechanics of BoneFix will be analysed as part of work package 5.
Our venue for the second day of the meeting; the beautiful historical building of École des Mines de Saint-Étienne.
At La Rotonde’s Antarctica exhibition.
The BoneFix Consortium | August 9, 2021
MINES PhD student Guillaume explains how he will design a cutting edge origami membrane for BoneFix
MINES St Etienne PhD student Guillaume Patt-Lafitte has produced a video explaining his thesis which will be part of the BoneFix project. Guillaume, who has a masters in biomedical engineering from the University of Paris, is working on BoneFix as part of David Eglin’s team. His project is titled “Design and fabrication of origami patch for a biodegradation osteosynthesis fixation” and will focus on developing biodegradable and foldable polymeric membranes which will be used in BoneFix’s fixation patch, together with the thiol-ene based hydroxyapatite composite.
In the video, which was made for the thesis monitoring committee at MINES, Guillaume describes the high incidence and costs associated with osteoporosis in Europe, and how the current metal plate and screw based fixators are often incompatible with osteoporotic bone. The topological fixation approach of BoneFix aims to overcome these issues by providing strong fixation to complex bone fractures without requiring drilling, which causes further trauma to the bone. The origami membrane that Guillaume aims to develop will enhance the fixation properties of BoneFix by increasing the strength and crack resistance of the fixation patch, while also being biodegradable. Its programmable foldability will allow the membrane to be applied in a folded configuration and then deployed in situ, which will allow for minimally invasive implantation.
Guillaume says that one of the things that interests him most about the BoneFix project is the chance to work with a multidiscipline team and that the creation and design of the new membrane will ultimately end up helping people. In addition to making complex origami in the lab, Guillaume enjoys origami as a hobby, along with climbing and cooking.
The BoneFix Consortium | June 30, 2021
Edited: October 4, 2021
KTH has published a new bone fixation technique called AdhFix in the high impact journal.
KTH has published a new bone fixation technique called AdhFix in the high impact journal Advanced Functional Materials. The paper, which was authored by KTH’s Daniel Hutchinson and involved researchers from KTH and RISE in Gothenburg and hand surgeons working at Södersjukhuset hospital and Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, describes how polymer composites based on thiol-ene coupling monomers and hydroxyapatite can be used together with metal screws to create strong, highly customizable, biocompatible and surgically feasible fixations for bone fractures. The approach, which involves a shapeable fixation patch built-up over the bone fracture with alternating layers or composite and fiber mesh, is similar to the strategy that will be used in the fixation patch in the BoneFix project. BoneFix, however will, not use metal screws, as a sophisticated primer system will be used instead to create strong adhesion between the composite and bone surface, resulting in a completely metal free fixation system.
You can read the publication here (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202105187) and the press release from KTH here (https://www.kth.se/en/aktuellt/nyheter/svara-frakturer-kan-fixeras-med-ny-skraddarsydd-metod-1.1086403).
The BoneFix Consortium | May 27, 2021
Edited: August 9, 2021
27th May 2021 Introducing Ahmad Rashad Elsebahy: UiB’s BoneFix Technical Manager
Acting as the technical manager for the University of Bergen BoneFix team is Ahmad Rashad Elsebahy. His main focus for the project is the engineering of biomimetic cell-instructive hydrogels for the bone scaffold domain, and the testing of these hydrogels in vitro with stem cells and in vivo in rat defect models. Originally from Alexandria in Egypt, Ahmad worked as a dentist for five years before completing his masters in biomaterials at Alexandria University. He then worked as a researcher in tissue engineering in Egypt, the US, and Japan before moving to the University of Bergen in Norway where he completed his PhD. He now leads the biofabrication team in the tissue engineering group there, where they 3D bioprint stem cells in advanced biomaterials for bone and cartilage regeneration.
When asked what interested him most about BoneFix, Ahmad replied that “in addition to the great knowledge I gain from the interdisciplinary team, I am fascinated by the innovative concept of BoneFix, where chemistry meets biology to create a smart multifunctional solution to heal broken bones.” Ahmad was initially inspired to start his career in tissue engineering after seeing a picture of the famous Vacanti Mouse, which had been engineered with a human ear on its back. “To create is to engineer and to engineer tissues we need to mimic their structures, compositions and developments.”
The BoneFix Consortium | March 15, 2021
Edited: August 9, 2021
15th Mars 2021 Introducing Noemi Molina Cabeza, KTH’s Technical Manager for BoneFix
Leading the research efforts of the BoneFix team in work packages 1 and 3 is KTH’s technical manager, postdoc Noemi Molina Cabeza. Noemi joined KTH after finishing her PhD with Professor Perez-Inestrosa and Professor Vida at the Biomimetic Dendrimers and Photonic Laboratory at the University of Malaga, Spain, where she specialized in the synthesis of dendrimers and their potential applications in bioimaging, tissue regeneration and as diagnostic tools for allergic reactions. Her main focus during BoneFix is the development of the antibacterial hydrogel coating which will cover the fixation patch and protect the patient from surgical site infections. The coating will be constructed from heterofunctional dendritic-linear-dendritic (HF-DLD) structures based on bis-MPA and PEG based polymers; all of which are currently being synthesized as part of work package 1. The high functionality of the proposed BoneFix technology is one of the most interesting aspects of the project for Noemi. “This novel approach aims not only at the fixation of fractures but tackles fundamental aspects of the recovery such as bone regeneration and post-surgical complications. Another important aspect is the fact that the components of the system are injectable mixtures that will be cured in situ, which provides a high versatility in treating different types of fractures where traditional approaches are limited.” In her free time, Noemi is a passionate reader and is finishing a bachelor’s degree in English studies, focusing on English literature.
The BoneFix Consortium | February 23, 2021
Edited: August 9, 2021
23rd February 2021 Introducing the latest KTH BoneFix team member
Jorge San Jacinto Garcia has joined the KTH BoneFix team as a PhD student. Originally from Guadalajara, Spain, Jorge was previously working on synthesizing carbosilane dendritic systems as anchorage platforms of AVP for the future treatment of Sars-Cov-2 at the University of Alcala, northeast of Madrid. His chemical synthesis skills will be an asset to the BoneFix project, where he will focus on developing the next generation of adhesive composite patches for bone fixation. Jorge will look at developing new primers with enhanced adhesion to bone as well as synthesizing new dendritic additives for the fixation patch composite, which will increase its rate of biodegradation. His main interest in the BoneFix project is the high impact on society that will result from replacing metal plates used in bone fixation with adhesive solutions. Jorge sees his doctorate within BoneFix as a “unique experience as well as a personal challenge to expand my scientific knowledge.” When asked what brought him to Sweden, he said “the interesting chemistry developed by the Malkoch research group, a passion for nature and the possibility to do my PhD in a foreign country.”
The BoneFix Consortium | October 30, 2020
Edited: November 20, 2020
30th October 2020 Upcoming BoneFix Annual Meeting: 12th and 13th November
In just under two weeks the partners of the BoneFix project will meet together for our first two-day annual consortium meeting. During the meeting, each of the partners will discuss their initial progress and their plan for realizing the deliverables and milestones of the project. KTH will also demonstrate some of its present composite based bone fixation technology, which has inspired the fixation aspect of BoneFix. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the meeting will be held online, but we can’t wait to all see each other in person.
The BoneFix Consortium | October 23, 2020
23rd October 2020 BoneFix: a new Pathfinder project proposing a paradigm shift in fracture fixations
The Future and Emerging Technologies Unit at DG Connect have published a news article about BoneFix, in which they describe how the project proposes a new solution for the treatment of fractures which aims to deal with the socioeconomic cost of fractures. Project leader Michael Malkoch was quoted as saying “if we succeed, the BoneFix technology is the ultimate universal solution that addresses currently identified surgical challenges of complex bone fracture fixation and restoration.” Read the article at https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/bonefix-new-pathfinder-project-proposing-paradigm-shift-fracture-fixations
The BoneFix Consortium | October 1, 2020
Edited November 2, 2020
1st October 2020 BoneFix has launched!
Today is the official project start date for the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) project BoneFix: A Paradigm Shift in Fracture Fixations via On-site Fabrication of Bone Restoration Patches. The initial challenges will be the synthesis of the vast array of cutting edge monomers and polymers which will be used to construct the three different domains of BoneFix. We look forward to sharing our journey with you. Stay tuned for more updates!
The BoneFix Consortium | September 1, 2020
Edited November 2, 2020
21st September 2020 Introducing BoneFix at Future Tech Week 2020
The consortium partners of BoneFix presented a 90-minute webinar on their upcoming project as part of the European Innovation Council’s Future Tech Week program. Future Tech Week is designed to give a snapshot of the currently funded Future and Emerging Technology projects. This year the event was held online due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. During the webinar, the BoneFix partners introduced themselves and highlighted some of their previous work which has inspired the present project. Linked to previous papers from the BoneFix consortium can be found under “Publications.”