The prevalence of osteoporosis and bone damage is increasing in Indonesia and around the world. As high as 38.2 percent of world population suffer from broken bones, which is accompanied by the increasing side-effects of the incompatibility between artificial bones and the human body. A substance that can increase the biocompatibility of artificial bones is required, such as hydrogel based on alginate or Algyrogel.
Five UGM students, Stefany Elan, Hardono Jaya, Mahadna, Astamurtiningrum, and Pramana Panaya, have developed a research in Algyrogel. With the supervision of Dr. drg. Juni Handayani, M.Kes, their research entitled Algyrogel, Biological Evaluation of New Alginate-Based Hydrogel as Osteoconductor Agent of Synthetic Bone with the Addition of Ce (111) (Cytotoxicity Test of Fibroglas Cell) is presented at the 27th National Student Week (PIMNAS) at UNDIP, Semarang.
Fany said somebody who was suffering from a broken bone would normally be supplied with graft or artificial bone, but, this is not always compatible with the body.
“Algyrogel is more compatible, hence, this should be developed further,” she said on Wednesday (27/8).
She added that Algyrogel along with Hydroxyapatite (HA) would produce syntetic injectable bone substitute (IBS). The difference is that this one is a mixture of Algyrogel with HA cynthetic bovine from cows.
“The IBS is sterile, ready to use and easy to apply. The gel that infiltrates the cavity in the broken bone will trigger proliferation and differentiation of bone cells,” she said.
According to drg. Juni Handayani, the research had been tested up to the cytotoxicity test. It proved low in the fibroblas cell and very potential to be developed as a safe and useful hydrogel product.
“The basic ingredient is algae which is easy and cheap to obtain,” said Juni.