2023年4月3日

帝國創業公司OSSTEC籌集了120萬英鎊，將其智能骨植入係統用於臨床試驗，本輪投資方:Science Angel Syndicate, Parkwalk Advisors, SFC Capital, Embryonic Ventures。並非所有的膝關節置換都是一樣的。對於老年患者，目標往往是減輕疼痛和恢複活動能力，而對於65歲以下的患者，重點是恢複積極的生活。帝國理工大學創業公司OSSTEC的目標是為這些年輕患者提供性能良好、壽命更長的植入物，該公司剛剛完成了120萬英鎊的融資。65歲以下的人接受膝關節置換手術越來越普遍，而不是等到晚年損傷變得更嚴重。但這改變了對植入物的要求。OSSTEC聯合創始人兼首席執行官Max Munford博士說:“年輕患者一生中種植體失敗的幾率約為35%，而失敗的主要原因是骨與種植體之間的固定失效。”“新技術意味著我們可以為年輕患者做更多的事情，提供比現有的固體金屬植入物更創新的解決方案，這就是我們在OSSTEC所做的事情。”本周結束的本輪融資包括帝國理工學院企業基金(Imperial College Enterprise Fund)的一筆投資，該基金投資於從帝國理工學院分拆出來的早期科技公司。該基金的投資經理詹姆斯·格羅夫斯博士說:“作為投資者，吸引我注意的是，OSSTEC不僅擁有先進的技術解決方案，而且還有一個圍繞它建立公司的可信計劃，並實現從3d打印機到手術室的所有創新。”固體植入物的部分問題在於，它們不像骨頭那樣表現出來。骨頭是一種多孔的、有生命的材料，會對施加在它上麵的拉力做出動態反應。 Solid implants stifle bone’s natural healing response to damage, leading to problems over time. “Rather than using solid materials, which are fairly alien in the body, we are using 3D printing technology to make titanium structures that replicate how bone naturally works,” Dr Munford says. “We are emulating how bone naturally heals itself, how bone naturally grows, and how it is maintained in the long-term.” Being porous also means a better bond can be created between the implant and the bone. “Just like a tree grows roots into the ground, bone grows roots into the implant, so rather than relying on cements to fix an implant to the bone, you have a biologic fixation.” The technology that OSSTEC is developing is based on research carried out in the Department of Mechanical Engineering on both the material’s structure and how it might be turned into implants using 3D printing. This is a technique that lays down thin layers of a material in a precise pattern, gradually building them up to produce an object. “The design of the material structure is innovative, but the big step is how we turn that into a software platform to tell the 3D printer what to do,” he says. Looking forward to surgery Work is currently underway preparing for the first use of the implants in patients. “We have animal data to show that the structure works, that it heals bone better than conventional implants, and stimulates bone in-growth. And we have human cadaveric data to show that the transition from animal model to humans would hold.” The next step is to refine the prototype implants and make sure they can handle the different loads and stresses that they will experience once fitted. “Now we are pulling all of our research from the past eight years into the real world,” Dr Munford says. The present funding round, together with an Innovate UK grant that OSSTEC received in 2022, will allow the company to carry out the regulatory testing and development needed to begin clinical studies. An important part of this process is talking to the medical profession about the potential of these new implants. “Listening to surgeons, being aware of what they need, and getting them involved in the process is absolutely crucial,” says Dr Munford. “Having surgeons that champion our technology translates into demand and will attract the attention of potential commercial partners.” Dr Johnathan Matlock CChem, Co-founder Science Angel Syndicate said: “We were impressed from the outset with Max’s entrepreneurial drive and ambition. His desire to see the translational of this research into a product with real-world clinical benefits to patients is clear. We were particularly impressed with their animal data demonstrating efficacy of their approach and we are delighted to have invested in the company as it moves into the clinic.” £1.2m Imperial startup OSSTEC has raised £1.2 million to take its system of smart bone implants into clinical trials By ScienceAngelSyndicate 03 Apr 2023 Sections