Engineered cell particles plus bone growth protein to boost bone healing in type 2 diabetes

Dual Delivery of Engineered EVs and Growth Factor for Bone Regeneration

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11322611

Combining engineered stem-cell particles with a bone-growth protein to help adults with type 2 diabetes heal bone injuries more reliably.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11322611 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will combine extracellular vesicles (tiny particles) made from mesenchymal stem cells that carry anti-inflammatory microRNAs with recombinant human BMP-2, a bone growth protein, and deliver both using a gel-and-bead release system. First they will identify which vesicle microRNAs reduce inflammation and promote bone repair, then optimize the combined delivery materials and dosing. Experiments will use laboratory and preclinical models that mimic the healing problems seen in people with type 2 diabetes. The goal is to reduce inflammation-driven failure of bone repair and improve durable bone healing in diabetes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with type 2 diabetes who have fractures, delayed healing, or nonunion bone injuries that impair recovery would be the most relevant candidates for this line of work.

Not a fit: People without bone-healing problems or those with active infection, uncontrolled medical conditions, or allergies to treatment components may not benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve bone healing, lower complication rates, and reduce the need for repeat surgeries in people with type 2 diabetes.

How similar studies have performed: Recombinant BMP-2 is already used clinically for bone repair and engineered MSC extracellular vesicles have shown promising preclinical immunomodulatory effects, making the combined delivery strategy relatively novel but grounded in prior work.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.