Wnt-gel
Project Overview
University
Year
About
Osteoporotic fractures often heal slowly because weakened bone has limited capacity to rebuild, and current medicines mainly slow further bone loss rather than actively repairing damaged tissue. This injectable gel delivers Wnt3a, a natural signalling protein that encourages stem cells to develop into bone-forming cells, directly to the injury site. Binding the protein to synthetic hydrogel particles is designed to keep its activity local and reduce the risks associated with systemic treatment. Laboratory studies and an osteoporotic rat model showed increased bone formation and mineral density. Delivered using a standard surgical syringe, the platform could support faster healing and reduce recurrent fractures and disability.
Team
Pietro Riccio
Pietro Riccio is a Research Fellow at the Healthcare Technologies Institute within the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, UK. In this role, he works as part of the institute’s research community in the School of Chemical Engineering, one of the University of Birmingham’s academic units.
Michael Rotherham