Nacre, a calcium carbonate structure present in mollusc shells, has been highlighted as a promising solution to a shortage of bone implant materials and the finding is boosting the manufacturing sector in the Kimberley.
An intriguing archaeological discovery inspired the new bone grafting treatment which uses a by-product of pearl shells. Ancient Mayan skulls discovered in Mexico were found to have perfectly fitting teeth made of nacre and radiographs showed the teeth had roots perfectly integrated into the surrounding bone.
A study led by Professor Minghao Zheng and Dr Rui Ruan, from The University of Western Australia’s Medical School, has shown that nacre possesses potent osteogenic properties and could potentially be suitable as a source for bone substitute material.
Dr Rui Ruan, Professor Minghao Zheng, Robert Banfield
“As people around the world are living longer, we are seeing an increased demand for bone substitutes and graft for surgical treatment of orthopaedic conditions,” says Professor Zheng, also Head of Bone and Brain Axis Research at the Perron Institute.
“More than two million bone grafting procedures to treat bone defects are performed annually worldwide, making it the second most frequent tissue transplantation.”
Up until now the ideal bone graft material was autograft sourced directly from the patient.
A downside of autograft is sourcing the material is an invasive procedure which sometimes results in donor site morbidity and presents significant clinical and economic disadvantages.
Allograft or xenograft-using biochemical processed bone sourced from deceased people or from animals - have always presented a risk of transmitted diseases and potential immunogenic reaction.
Synthetic bone substitutes, on the other hand, have a problem with providing effective osseointegration – the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and surface living bone and the surface of a loadbearing artificial implant.
“As people around the world are living longer, we are seeing an increased demand for bone substitutes and graft for surgical treatment of orthopaedic conditions.”Professor Minghao Zheng, UWA Medical School
“There is an unmet need to address the limitations of bone substitute and to improve its biofunctional properties,” Professor Zheng says.
“Research has shown that there are bioactive components in nacre that have potent osteogenicity to grow human bone.”
Broome is the home of Australian South Sea Pearl production and as pearl production is the primary objective of the industry, a large quantity of nacre ends up as byproduct.
Research has shown the nacre from silver-lipped pearl oysters in Broome is rich in trace elements and free of any environmental contamination, and the best in enhancement of biomineralisation and bone formation.
The team has subsequently developed a patented technology for using nacre to make a bone substitute named PearlBone.
New Broome-based biotech company Marine Biomedical intends to develop medical products and devices from sustainably certified nacre, including PearlBone.
This is the first medical manufacturing company set up in the Kimberley region and will use nacre from Broome to manufacture Pearlbone under the good manufacture practice guidelines to obtain FDA market authorisation of the product for orthopaedic use.
Professor Zheng, who devoted many years to the development of the product, says its potential for orthopaedic applications could not be understated.
“In a preclinical study of a rabbit critical bone defect model, Pearlbone displayed better bone healing efficacy when compared to the most commonly used bone substitute, hydroxyapatite,” he says.
“Our work has proven that PearlBone substantially supports the process of new bone formation, compared to other synthetic bone substitutes in the market.
“The results to date are very encouraging – through PearlBone, there is a revolutionary opportunity to utilise the process of marine biomineralisation in lieu of traditional devices in orthopaedic, trauma and reconstructive surgical applications.”
Marine Biomedical has recently received two significant funding awards contributed by State and Federal sources to establish the first medical device manufacture facility in Broome enabling the production of PearlBone for use in orthopaedic applications.
Patrick Moase, CEO of Marine Biomedical, says the grants will help develop economic diversity and create jobs.
“Research has shown that there are bioactive components in nacre that have potent osteogenicity to grow human bone.”Professor Minghao Zheng, UWA Medical School
“Marine Biomedical is hugely appreciative of these grants and encouraged to see that development of regional innovation, along with industry diversity, particularly in the medical space, is supported by those who see northern Australia as a zone that has the potential to attract expertise and achieve great outcomes for the community,” Mr Moase says.
The biotech company’s collaboration with researchers from UWA and Broome pearling business Willie Creek Pearls will give the Kimberley pearling industry an opportunity to harvest mother-ofpearl and turn it into a sustainable new product.
Willie Creek Pearls Chairman and Marine Biomedical partner Robert Banfield says he welcomes the opportunity to expand the opportunities for Broome’s internationally renowned pearling industry.
“Modern pearl farming has tended to view nacre as a by-product, but this opportunity to develop PearlBone from this incredible source material shines a light on a whole new opportunity for the pearl farming industry,” Mr Banfield says.
Professor Kevin Pfleger, director of Biomedical Innovation at UWA and MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, says Marine Biomedical was leading the way in unlocking the incredible potential of our oceans to develop biomedical applications in Australia.
“It demonstrates the capacity for innovation and research excellence in Western Australia,” Professor Pfleger says.
Marine Biomedical will continue the development of PearlBone and pursue regulatory approval for the product in several countries, including the United States and Australia, in the next two to three years.
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