Yesterday we highlighted the remarkable innovation of a bone-based adhesive that could one day replace metal implants in spinal fracture repair. Today we continue on the path of disruptive medical advances, this time focusing on degenerative spinal conditions — where new technologies may not only complement but potentially eliminate the need for conventional hardware in surgery.
For decades, rods, screws, and metal implants have been the cornerstone of spinal fusion surgery. While effective, these devices come with notable limitations: their rigidity, the invasive nature of the procedures, and the frequent aftermath of chronic pain, stiffness, or the need for further interventions.
At the University of Missouri, a team of engineers is pursuing a very different solution. In the Biomodulatory Materials Engineering Laboratory at the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, Associate Professor Bret Ulery and his colleagues are developing biological substitutes for metal. Their mission is to create bioactive materials that guide the body to regenerate its own bone tissue rather than imposing an artificial scaffold.
“Our research is about learning how the body can be directed to rebuild its own bone,” says Ulery. “We’re trying to encourage natural healing instead of forcing it.”
Supported by nearly $2 million from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the researchers are working on soft, biodegradable materials derived from both synthetic compounds and plant-based carbohydrates. These can be tailored to promote bone growth, reduce inflammation, and safely dissolve once their job is done.
A central part of their strategy involves micelles — tiny biodegradable structures formed by therapeutic peptides. These act as versatile delivery vehicles: they can transport drugs, release biological signals, or activate stem cells to initiate tissue repair. To accelerate progress, the team is also creating computational models to predict how different peptide sequences will behave, streamlining the development of new therapies.
Each year in the U.S., more than 30,000 spinal fusion surgeries are performed, mostly in older adults with degenerative spine disease. A regenerative approach could transform this reality. Beyond spine care, the same biomodulatory materials are being adapted for next-generation vaccines, tumor-targeting nanoparticles, therapies for autoimmune and infectious diseases, and even craniofacial reconstruction such as jawbone repair.
Graduate researcher Shwetha Ramachandra, who underwent spinal fusion surgery herself after a lumbar fracture, emphasizes the personal importance of the project: “Metal plates and screws are not like living bone. What we’re working on could make recovery more natural and less burdensome. For me, this is more than a research project — it’s real hope for the future.”
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