Injectable biomimetic nanofiber beads to help regrow jaw (alveolar) bone
Biomimetic and Injectable Highly Porous Nanofiber Microsphere-based Platform for Alveolar Bone Regeneration
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11061930
An injectable, sponge-like nanofiber bead designed to help people with lost jaw bone from tooth loss, gum disease, or injury regrow bone without major surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (OMAHA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11061930 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project is developing an injectable, sponge-like nanofiber bead you could have placed into an empty tooth socket or bone defect to encourage your jaw bone to grow back without big surgery. The beads are designed to mimic natural bone and carry bone-growth peptides (like E7-BMP-2) that help your own cells attach and form new bone; they have helped heal tooth-extraction sites in rats. The team will optimize bead composition, mineral content, and peptide release and test healing and safety in preclinical models to prepare for future human testing. If these steps go well, the approach could be moved toward clinical trials as a less invasive alternative to current bone grafts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with missing or deficient alveolar (jaw) bone after tooth extraction, periodontal disease, or trauma who need bone regeneration before dental implants.
Not a fit: Patients with active oral infections, uncontrolled systemic conditions that impair healing (such as uncontrolled diabetes), severe osteoporosis, or those needing large-scale reconstructive surgery may not benefit from this injectable approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could offer a minimally invasive, injectable alternative to bone graft surgery for rebuilding alveolar bone and supporting dental implants.
How similar studies have performed: Related biomaterials and BMP-2 containing therapies have shown promising bone growth in animal studies and some clinical products exist, while injectable nanofiber microspheres are a newer approach with early success in rat models.
Where this research is happening
OMAHA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER — OMAHA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: XIE, JINGWEI — UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: XIE, JINGWEI
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.