Cortino Sukotjo, DDS, PhD, and Christos Takoudis, PhD, researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago, have partnered to create a new bone regrowth material.
The material includes a nanometer-thin layer of magnesium atoms with the typical collagen-based membrane used to help regrow bone, which aids in healing and defends against infections, according to an Aug. 30 news release.
The membrane may be helpful when it comes to dental implants, as dentists often place a collagen membrane around the site of the implant to create bone growth.
Incorporating a combination of titanium and magnesium into the membrane material is currently being tested to determine if it is even more effective in promoting bone graft growth and strength, the release said.