Phytomedicinal surgical scaffolds
Current Stage of Innovation
Proof of Concept
Bone regeneration is a critical yet unresolved challenge in dentistry. Current solutions, including autografts, allografts, and synthetic scaffolds, have limitations. Autografts require secondary surgical sites, increasing morbidity. Allografts and xenografts carry risks of immune rejection and disease transmission. Synthetic polymers, though biodegradable, often lack bioactivity, while ceramics are costly, brittle, and difficult to shape. Growth factors and nanomaterials, though promising, are expensive, unstable, and can induce cytotoxicity or resistance. These challenges leave clinicians with limited, often suboptimal choices for managing defects from periapical surgeries, endodontic microsurgeries, and fracture repair. Our innovation directly addresses this gap by offering a cost-effective, bioactive, and dual-functional scaffold. By coating collagen membranes with herbal extracts of Coelogyne cristata and Ulmus wallichiana, we harness nature’s own osteogenic and antimicrobial compounds. This ensures not only bone regeneration but also infection control, a vital factor in oral and maxillofacial healing where microbial presence can compromise outcomes. The problem we are solving
Bone regeneration remains a major challenge in dentistry and orthopedics due to the limitations of existing materials. Current options such as autografts, allografts, synthetic polymers, and ceramics face barriers including immunological reactions, limited availability, high costs, and lack of intrinsic bioactivity. To overcome these challenges, we developed a herbal extract-coated scaffold integrating the medicinal potential of Coelogyne cristata and Ulmus wallichiana with collagen-based biomaterials. Coelogyne cristata (“Jibanti”) is recognized in Kumaon Himalayan folklore for its bone-healing capacity, attributed to the phenanthrenoid compound “Coelogin.” Ulmus wallichiana has been used in traditional Indian medicine, where its stem bark extract rich in flavonoid-C-glucosides supports fracture repair. By coating collagen membranes with these extracts, we created a dual-functional scaffold that enhances osteogenic activity while providing antimicrobial protection against oral pathogens. The scaffold was fabricated under standardized laboratory protocols and characterized through advanced techniques such as GC-MS, SEM, water contact angle measurement, and qRT-PCR. In vitro experim
PoC Development, Pilot Production
The initial challenge was extract preparation and standardization. Variability in plant sources, drying methods, and solvents could affect bioactive compound yield. Through optimization using microwave-assisted drying, ethanol extraction, and GC-MS analysis, we ensured reproducibility and purity. Fabrication of uniformly coated scaffolds was another hurdle. We standardized extract concentrations and coating methods using collagen membranes, to achieve consistency. Testing biocompatibility was crucial since herbal compounds can be cytotoxic at higher concentrations. MTT assays confirmed safe usage thresholds. The dual functionality simultaneously promoting osteogenesis and combating pathogens posed a scientific challenge, as many existing biomaterials focus on one property. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated promising osteogenic upregulation, validating our approach.
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