New research has revealed that tiny spherical diamonds could be helpful when trying to encourage bone growth and improve the performance of dental implants. The gems are so small they cannot be seen by the human eye and they could be used to combat forms of bone loss including osteonecrosis, a disease where the bones break down due to reduced blood flow.
Scientists from UCLA and the NanoCarbon Research Institute in Japan discovered that the nanodiamonds could deliver proteins to the teeth to treat the symptoms of osteonecrosis, making implants more stable and functional by maintaining the bone around the sockets.
Dean Ho, professor of oral biology and medicine at the UCLA School of Dentistry, led the study and it was later published in the Journal of Dental Research. He explained that previous methods of bone restoration involved placing a sponge surgically into the tissue to administer proteins that promote bone growth. Dr Ho’s team discovered that nanodiamonds could deliver the same proteins more efficiently because they bind with the bone, allowing the affected area to be treated for a longer period of time. The diamonds can also be administered without the need for surgical treatment, either by an injection or an oral rinse.
Dr Ho added that ‘Because they are useful for delivering such a broad range of therapies, nanodiamonds have the potential to impact several other facets of oral, maxillofacial and orthopedic surgery, as well as regenerative medicine.’