UST researcher eyes cheaper, faster bone regeneration method

SCAFFOLDS made out of a combi nation of various polymers can re generate an artificial bone within 12 weeks after the operation, a UST researcher found.

Hidenori Tomimatsu, a re searcher at the UST Research Cen ter for Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS), studied the regenerative properties of polymers to propose a cheaper and safer alternative for present bone repair methods.

THE TAAL Lake’s ecosystem is exhibiting signs of rapid decline following the Taal Volcano’s eruption in January 2020, a team of Thomasian researchers found.

In the study titled “Macroinvertebrate assemblages and functional traits in ashfall-impacted littoral zones of Lake Taal after the Taal Volcano eruption in January 2020,” a team led by Asst. Prof. Jonathan Briones found that there were fewer macroinvertebrates (large organisms that lack a spine) in areas of the Taal Lake that received more ash fall during the eruption.

John Claude Salluta, a research team member of the study, explained that the problem with the fewer macroinvertebrates coupled with longstanding human activities and pollution could result in the Taal Lake suffering the same fate as the Laguna de Bay, which faces contamination and degradation issues.

“Lake Taal is experiencing rapid declines in its biotic and abiotic components. Maybe due to human activities wherein the actual watershed of the Taal lake is currently being altered by agricultural expansion, urban sprawls, and then industries that put their wastes that are not treated and regulated directly into the lake,” Salluta told the Varsitarian

“If human activities on the entire watershed of Taal will continue to proliferate [and] remain unregulated, chances are Taal will be similar to Laguna de Bay, which is like really unfortunately degraded by unregulated fish cage operations.”

The researchers hoped that through their study, the local government of Taal would prioritize the watersheds’ rehabilitation and the lake’s protection.

“That’s why we hope our studies could be used for the outputs of our findings and will be used for future conservation efforts of the national government,” Salluta added.

Salluta won the Best Oral Presentation Award for the study during the 3rd Philippine Symposium on Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystem last November 2022.

“What I aim to do is to use a tissue-engineering process to be able to have cost-effective and fast alternatives… to the very few exist ing standards for bone regenera tion,” he told the Varsitarian

In his research poster, Tomimatsu claimed that “existing bone repair gold standards pose fatal post-operation risks.”

Tomimatsu used polypyrrole (conducting polymers), polycaprolactone (synthetic polymers), and chitosan (biopolymers) for his study to test its effectiveness in regenerating artificial bones. He performed trials on mice’s femoral (thigh) bones.

His research found that the polymer materials were suitable for implants since their thermograms showed that it degrades at 290 degrees to 500 degrees Celsius or above the normal body temperature.

The study also found that polymers can absorb water, have high swelling characteristics, and increase weight, which indicates a porous structure or proliferation of cells and nutrients.

Although cost analysis was not done in the study, Tomimatsu said these polymers would cost less since they only used “very small amounts to create the scaffolds.”

“This is directed to the consumers, or to the customers, or to anyone who is undergoing bone treatments. Sadly, this takes time to process or to become a product. Siguro 20 to 50 years from now,” said Tomimatsu.

Tomimatsu said completing the study was difficult because of the lack of proper materials in the Philippines.

“Honestly, mahirap mag-undertake ng ganitong kind of study here in the Philippines due to lack of materials needed and medyo mahal siya. It is quite difficult [for] all those who want to try bone regeneration or similar studies, but it is very promising, and it is very fulfilling from start to finish,” he said.

Tomimatsu won the third prize for his research poster in the Rapid Fire Poster Session during the 42nd Annual Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering Meeting and Symposium (APAMS) hosted by UST from Oct. 11 to 14. APAMS is an annual multidisciplinary conference for the research endeavors of Filipino and Filipino-American scientists and engineers. N.G. DE LEON