The market for orthobiologics has had to take a backseat because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but experts expect to see the market rebound in 2021 and continue to grow in subsequent years. The market is crowded with lots of competition, so it's critical to be able to differentiate between products and understand which patients would benefit most from each product.
Boyle Cheng, PhD, the director of research for the neuroscience institute at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, shared an overview of one orthobiologic product, called ReBOSSIS, during a Dec. 15 webinar hosted by Becker's Hospital Review and sponsored by Kyocera. Dr. Cheng shared the benefits of ReBOSSIS for musculoskeletal injuries and what sets it apart from its competition.
Five takeaways from the discussion:
- ReBOSSIS is a cottony-type synthetic bone-filling material that is made from electrospun fibre technology. It is made of calcium phosphate and is a bioresorbable bioactive, which means that over time, as part of the bone remodeling process, it is able to grow a sufficient amount of bone. Its cotton-like structure improves cell vitality and adherence while successfully fostering cell growth and proliferation.
- ReBOSSIS has several elements that make it ideal for bone healing, including high absorbability. When it's hydrated, it becomes moldable and offers enhanced bone-to-graft contact, which is very conducive to bone void filling and moldability. It also shows an improved spatial organization not commonly found among other biologics.
- Orthobiologics has applications across the orthopedics market, including joint replacement, spine, trauma and sports medicine. Though the market has suffered due to the pandemic, it is expected to rebound next year and see continued growth for years to come. Electrospun fibre technology will be particularly important in the future.
- Electrospinning technology translates to much better bone healing. ReBOSSIS' electrospun fibre technology provides excellent handling properties, including compression, recoil recovery and absorption properties. It allows for the rapid proliferation of osteoblasts and cells proliferate along the fibers before beginning to fill the space between adjacent fibers. It also allows for plenty of surface for cells to attach to. The advantages of the electrospinning technique include the production of very thin fibers, on the order of a few nanometers, which makes it more functional for various purposes.
- A 21-day calcium assay showed that ReBOSSIS in comparison to competitors shows a far better bone maturation. Cell activity heals and matures bone and Dr. Cheng said it is "amazing" how much is mineralized after 21 days. ReBOSSIS material possesses an inherent charge and when opened, the material shows static attraction to metallic objects. The surface charge may have profound benefits to molecular and cellular interactions in ReBOSSIS scaffolds. Increased surface charge can also lead to increases in cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation.
To watch the full webinar, click here.