A research team at HKUMed has developed a novel photocurrent-responsive implant surface to enhance bone-to-implant integration after orthopedic surgeries. This coating reduces acute inflammation and fosters a favorable osteoimmune microenvironment, accelerating integration time to just two weeks, compared to the standard 28 days. By regulating macrophage differentiation through the generation of a photocurrent in response to near-infrared light, the coating promotes bone formation and enhances the recruitment of mesenchymal stem cells. This breakthrough discovery is expected to improve the success rate of orthopedic surgeries, reduce complications, and pave the way for new biomaterials for enhancing patient recovery.
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Photocurrent-responsive coating cuts bone-to-implant integration time in half
