Bone regeneration, a special field of orthopedics that focuses on treatment options to regenerate, reconstruct, and restore bone tissue following traumatic injury or illness, requires innovative biomaterials.

The JKU and one of its spin-off companies, Resorbink FlexCo, have signed an agreement to put its patent into real-world practice. The patent is expected to be market-ready in the very near future and could greatly benefit hospital patients.

A team led by Prof. Ian Teasdale and Prof. Oliver Brüggemann at the JKU Institute for the Chemistry of Polymers have made a significant breakthrough. Prof. Brüggeman explains, “We have been working on biodegradable polymers, meaning plastics which can be broken down again, for a while now. We have finally successfully created a very special polymerizable monomer suitable for degradable polymers.” In simpler terms, by means of a chemical reaction, the method facilitates the production of small molecules that bind with other molecules to become considerably larger. When applying the processes with precision, scientists can virtually determine how quickly the molecules bind. The JKU chemist added: “This way, you can essentially fine-tune just how quickly the human body breaks a material down.”

Prof. Teasdale remarked, “When it came to creating the innovative materials, we were inspired by nature. Just like natural bone, these new materials consist of phosphorus and amino acids, and are well-suited for medical applications in bone regeneration.”

Theory and Real-World Applications
Granted in terms of its theoretical principles, the patent now requires a plan to facilitate real-world applications; this is where Resorbink FlexCo will come in. The JKU spin-off company was established by Brüggemann together with Ian Teasdale and Stephan Haudum, Haudum, who developed the new technology as part of his dissertation at the institute, will serve as company CEO.

Haudum explains: “As a highly innovative company, Resorbink FlexCo will introduce the new method into everyday medical practice.” The technology will be used as an ink to use 3D printers and print personalized implants. Haudum adds: “The goal is to ultimately work with industrial partners and create a cost-effective method suitable for everyday clinical use.”

The spin-off company granted an exclusive license
To this end, Resorbink FlexCo has been granted an exclusive license for patent use. Christiane Tusek (JKU Vice-Rector for Finance and Entrepreneurship) congratulated the spin-off company and remarked: “Accomplishments such as these demonstrate just how research supports advancements in everyday clinical use. In addition to theoretical foundations, I am very pleased that dedicated researchers and scientists here at the JKU are able to apply these theories to real-world practices. The agreement is a shining example of how we pool research expertise at our university to address and solve current real-life issues so that science can benefit humanity.”

Submitted in partnership with the JKU Faculty of Medicine, the new, now award-winning technology was part of the “Synthetic Bones” project which won first place at the recently held Upper Austria State Award for Innovation in the category “Innovative Research Institutions”. Dr. Eleni Priglinger (Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology) is delighted with the partnership: “The new method is not only cost-effective, but also processable by means of 3D printing. In the lab, we’ve been able to show that these materials actually use stem cells to form new bone. We are already in the planning stages of organizing initial clinical studies.”

Resorbink FlexCo has now taken the initial steps and is set to embark on implementing the new technology. Haudum has outlined ambitious goals and adds, “I strongly believe that we will be market-ready in four to five years.”