Eggshells linked to bone growth
University of Massachusetts Lowell researches say they have discovered a use for eggs that goes far beyond simple cooking and eating.
University of Massachusetts Lowell researches say they have discovered a use for eggs that goes far beyond simple cooking and eating.
A team of scientists found that eggshells can be used to quickly repair bones in patients suffering from cancer, accidents and aging. Their findings will be featured on the cover of Biomaterials Science this month.
"Global waste of discarded eggshells typically amounts to millions of tons annually from household and commercial cooking," said UMass Lowell Assistant Professor Gulden Camci-Unal in a news release.
"By repurposing them, we can directly benefit the economy and the environment while providing a sustainable solution to unmet clinical needs," Camci-Unal continued.
The calcium carbonate in eggshell particles increases bones" ability to grow and harden. Researchers used crushed eggshells in a hydrogel mixture that forms a frame for bone grafts. Bone cells from a patient"s body are introduced to the mixture and incubated until the bone is ready for implantation, the release explains.
"This is the first study that uses eggshell particles in a hydrogel matrix for bone repair," Camci-Unal said in the release, adding that the team has filed for a patent.
Biomedical engineering and biotechnology Ph.D. candidates Sanika Suvarnapathaki and Xinchen Wu, of Lowell, and Darlin Lantigua, of Lawrence assisted with research. Wu was the lead author of the research findings.
Reference:https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2019/camci-unal-eggshell-bioengineering.aspx
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