Osteoporosis is a silent and progressive disease that gradually weakens bones, often going undetected until a serious fracture occurs. It primarily affects older adults, particularly women, and leads to millions of fractures worldwide each year. Traditional osteoporosis medications can take months to begin working and typically target the entire skeleton, rather than specific problem areas.
Now, a French startup called Flowbone has developed an innovative injectable hydrogel that can rapidly strengthen targeted bones—offering patients a quicker and more localized treatment option.
The Challenges with Current Osteoporosis Therapies
For years, osteoporosis treatment has relied on systemic medications designed to either promote bone formation or slow bone degradation. While these therapies can be effective, they often require up to a year to significantly increase bone density—an unacceptably long timeframe for older individuals at high risk of falls and fractures.
“In the absence of effective preventive measures, around 40% of women aged 50 and over will suffer at least one major osteoporotic fracture; in men, the percentage is around 20%,” said Dominique Pioletti, head of the Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopedics at EPFL. Fractures near the hip or femoral neck are particularly serious, with a mortality rate of 20% within one year of the injury.
A Promising Solution: Injectable Hydrogel
To meet the need for faster treatment, researchers at EPFL have developed an injectable hydrogel composed of hyaluronic acid and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. This hydrogel is injected directly into weakened bone regions, where it acts as a scaffold to support bone regeneration and improve density.
In preclinical studies using mouse models, the hydrogel achieved a two- to threefold increase in bone density within just two weeks. Notably, the hydrogel integrates seamlessly into bone tissue without causing inflammation or rejection, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility.
Enhancing Results Through Drug Combinations
The team also explored how the hydrogel performs when paired with conventional osteoporosis medications. In trials, they combined the hydrogel with parathyroid hormone, a systemic bone-growth stimulant, and in some cases, added the anti-resorptive drug Zoledronate directly into the hydrogel formulation.
The outcomes were remarkable: bone density at the injection site increased by 4.8 times in just a few weeks. As Pioletti explained, “Our findings suggest that injectable hydrogels with localized anti-catabolic drug delivery can complement systemic anabolic treatment, by rapidly increasing local bone density.” This dual-approach may offer immediate support for patients at high fracture risk, combining the benefits of fast local repair with long-term systemic treatment.
The Science Behind the Innovation
The hydrogel’s effectiveness lies in its advanced biomimetic design. Hyaluronic acid provides a soft, hydrophilic scaffold that replicates the natural environment of bone, allowing bone-forming cells to infiltrate and begin regeneration. The hydroxyapatite nanoparticles mimic the structural composition of bone and chemically stimulate osteoblasts (bone-producing cells).
Unlike traditional bone cements—which are rigid and brittle—the hydrogel is flexible and injectable, allowing it to conform to irregular or complex anatomical spaces. This adaptability makes it ideal not only for osteoporosis treatment but also for potential use in cartilage repair and other orthopedic applications.
What’s Next for Flowbone’s Hydrogel?
While the initial findings are promising, they are based on animal models. The next step is clinical testing in humans. Flowbone aims to apply the hydrogel in patients at risk of fractures or in need of improved bone support for dental implants or artificial hip joints.
“The road to get our product approved and into the clinic is still very long. Fortunately, our motivation is strong and infallible!” said Régis Gauderon, one of Flowbone’s researchers.
If human trials are successful, Flowbone’s injectable hydrogel could transform the treatment landscape for osteoporosis—offering fast, targeted bone regeneration within days or weeks, rather than the months or years required by traditional medications.
Source: theheartysoul.com