Producing Artificial Bones from Fish Scales

Tokyo Tech's Toshiyuki Ikoma and Junzo Tanaka have developed technology for producing artificial bones from fish scales and apatite.

Toshiyuki Ikoma and Junzo Tanaka have developed technology for producing artificial bones from fish scales and apatite. "Our technology enables the formation of new bone tissues within three months," says Ikoma. "This is much faster than the six months required using collagen from porcine dermis." The use of fish collagen also mitigates the potential infection of humans with viruses from pigs. "This new material is very safe," emphasizes Ikoma.

"One of our major aims is to use fish collagen for the treatment of bone tumors in older people whose bones take longer to regenerate," explains Ikoma. "Fish collagen is a material that has the potential of becoming the key material for the development of artificial bones and bone therapy.

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