Bone grown naturally in lab for first time

HUMAN bone has been grown naturally in a laboratory for the first time using a technique that could do away with the need for painful grafting operations.

The process, which uses stem cells taken from bone marrow, is being hailed as a breakthrough and could be available on the NHS in a decade.

Researchers, led by the University of Glasgow, triggered the cells to turn into bone using tiny vibrations, providing 1,000 ‘nanokicks’ a second.

Previously, scientists turned cells into bone using a chemical ‘soup’, which raised fears of side effects if the mixture was introduced to a patient’s body.

One of the lead researchers, Dr Peter Childs, said the study, which is reported in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, is ‘a great step towards seeing stem cells used to grow bone and treat patients in the clinic’.

Bone graft surgery often involves removing part of a hip to be used in joint replacements, to fix badly broken bones or in back operations. The procedure is painful and can lead to infection.

In future, stem cells could be taken from bone marrow using an injection, with one donor providing cells for many patients, or less painfully removed from fat stores within the body.

The first human trials are expected in three years.