Fibers created with bacteria enable bone healing

Have you ever wondered if there is a way to heal bones without having to take bone from another part of the body? A new doctoral dissertation by a scientist from Borås University, Sweden, presents exciting advances in this field. It is about using bacteria to produce fibers that can aid in bone healing.

Sabrina Kopf, Ph.D. in polymer technology, has investigated the possibilities of using a special type of biological plastic, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), produced by bacteria.

“The idea is to use these fibers in a textile structure that can support bone healing in cases of large bone defects. For bones to heal, bone cells need something to attach to. Bone cells recognize a substance like calcium phosphate. So we added this substance to the fibers,” she explained.

The biggest challenge in the project was converting the PHA into fibers using the equipment available in the lab. By melting the biological plastic and pushing it through a hole, like making spaghetti, the scientists were able to produce fibers. These fibers were then tested on bone cells to see if the cells could survive on the material.

“It turned out that it was possible to create fibers that were similar in strength to bone. In addition, we were able to create simple knitted and woven textile structures from these fibers. The bone cells adhered to the surface of the material and looked healthy, which is a good signal,” says Sabrina Kopf.

There is a large unmet need for bone replacement materials

Bone is the second most commonly transplanted tissue in the world after blood, indicating a significant need for bone replacement materials.

“Today, bone from the patient’s own body is often used, meaning that bone is taken from the pelvis, for example, and transplanted into the damaged area of the body. This limits the amount of bone tissue available. There is also a high risk of complications at the transplant site. The use of synthetic materials such as PHA fibers may be a solution to this problem,” says Sabrina Kopf.

An environmentally friendly alternative

PHA fibers are completely environmentally friendly. They can be produced from waste and degrade in all types of environments without being stored as microplastics. This makes them an environmentally friendly option for the future.

Advances in biomedical research

“The results of my project are a small step forward in biomedical research that may inspire other researchers to explore the potential of textiles for medical purposes,” says Sabrina.

Research at Borås University focuses on sustainable development based on the Global Goals. Sabrina explained how this project relates to those goals:

“Being able to produce fibers from PHA does not only benefit the health sector, although this is the approach that was used in my thesis. The fibers can be used in other textile applications and contribute to all aspects where textiles are involved in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals because PHA and its products are biodegradable and have no negative impact on the environment.”

When asked “What is your next step as a researcher?”, Sabrina shared her plans:

“I will start working as a researcher in the field of fusion spinning at RISE in the fiber development department. This way, I will be working with the same technology I used in my dissertation.

Getting a PhD is like riding a roller coaster for a few years, there are many ups and downs. Some of them are exciting and fun, others quite scary, but especially during the difficult times I have been very lucky to have the support of wonderful supervisors and colleagues who have become friends over the years.”