Drug to boost bone healing
A new drug is being developed to help bones heal faster and better to help older people recover more quickly after suffering a fracture.
Using bone samples from people undergoing hip replacement surgery, researchers from the University of Southampton were able to show that the drug causes stem cells found within bones to divide and turn into more bone cells.
The drug is a protein that activates a molecular pathway called the 'Wnt' pathway which is involved in controlling the growth of stem cells, which help restore tissues after injury.
Dr Nick Evans, associate professor in bioengineering, says the problem of bone fractures in society is getting worse with around 10 per cent taking over six months to heal, or never healing at all.
The research is published in the journal Stem Cells.
First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.