Local zinc delivery plus controlled loading to help bone and tendon-to-bone healing after fractures or ACL surgery
Localized small molecule delivery to improve tendon-to-bone integration following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Seeing if putting zinc directly at a healing bone site combined with controlled mechanical loading can help bones and tendon-to-bone connections heal faster and stronger for people with fractures or after ACL repair.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250194 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This is a preclinical project that uses a rat femur fracture model to mimic human bone healing and tendon-to-bone repair. Researchers will deliver zinc locally to the healing site and apply controlled mechanical loads to the callus to see how the two together affect repair. They will measure new bone formation, structural strength, and how cells handle zinc during healing. The work aims to link mechanical signals with intracellular zinc changes to guide future therapies for people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this project is preclinical and not enrolling people, the eventual ideal patients would be people recovering from bone fractures or from ACL reconstruction who need stronger tendon-to-bone healing.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to bone or tendon healing, or those not needing surgical repair or fracture care, are unlikely to benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point toward new localized zinc-based treatments plus mechanical rehabilitation approaches that speed recovery and strengthen repaired bone or tendon-to-bone attachments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show zinc can promote bone formation and that controlled mechanical loading improves healing, but combining local zinc delivery with mechanical load as a therapeutic approach is relatively new and still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- University of Delaware — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hast, Michael William — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Hast, Michael William
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.