Researchers Explore Wood As Potential Bone Substitute

By heating rattan wood under intense pressure, researchers at the Istec Laboratory of Bioceramics in Faenza have been able to produce a white porous material similar to bone, potentially suitable for human use. The material is reported to be close enough to bone to allow blood, nerves and other compounds to travel through it.

Inhabitat describes the initial studies below:

Studies in which surgeons have placed the bone substitute into sheep, and so far the results show great promise. The bone begins to fuse with the sheep’s bone and after some time, it’s impossible to even see where the two are joined. And unlike other bone substitutes like metals and ceramics, this new material is just as strong and will most likely never need to be replaced. The researchers plan to start using this new material within 5 years on humans and have great hope that a natural, cheap and effective replacement for bones is now possible.

Inhabitat: “Scientists Turn Wood Into Bones”