Bio-products for recapitulating nerve-vessel-bone network

Overview

The interactions among nerve, vessel, and bone are perturbed upon either traumatic injuries (fracture, bone defect) or age advances. Unfortunately, conventional treatments usually fail to achieve satisfactory outcome. It is highly desirable to reconstruct the nerve-vessel-bone network to realize functional regeneration of bone. This technology has been licensed by CUHK academic-led start-up Targene Biotech (Hong Kong) Limited.

Technical name of innovation

Bioactive materials for in situ regeneration of nerve-vessel-bone unit

Research completion

2023

Commercialisation opportunities

technology licensing agreement

Problem addressed

We has innovatively fabricated injectable hydrogel to stably deliver CGRP, and found that such system effectively promote vessel formation within the defect region. Given neurons are sensitive to electrical stimulation, incorporation of piezoelectrical materials with the injectable hydrogel is feasible.

Innovation

The core of our invention is the incorporation of injectable hydrogel with either metallic ions (e.g. magnesium ions), neuropeptides (e.g. CGRP), or piezoelectrical materials.

Key impact

Injectable means user friendly
Low dosage and lower cost (1/3 of BMP2)
Highly clinical efficacy for realizing functional regeneration

Award

2023 Geneva International Invention Award (Bronze Medal)

Application

Bone defect
Peritunnel bone loss after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Joint degenerative disorders

Patent

PCT/CN2023/078042
CN208942439U

Website

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. CUHK teachers and students hail from all around the world. Four Nobel laureates are associated with the university, and it is the only tertiary institution in Hong Kong with recipients of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Fields Medal and Veblen Prize sitting as faculty in residence. CUHK graduates are connected worldwide through an extensive alumni network. CUHK undertakes a wide range of research programmes in many subject areas, and strives to provide scope for all academic staff to undertake consultancy and collaborative projects with industry.

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