Diabetes: skeletal alterations and its implications in bone regeneration

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is increasing at epidemic proportions and represents a huge socioeconomic burden. Recent evidence, in part originating from the applicant, has shown that T2DM also affects the skeletal system. The compromised T2DM bone health status, including the oral bone environment, remains however largely unexplored. The proposed project aims to further progress its research activities focused on the assessment of the cellular, microstructural, vascular, compositional and mechanical characteristics of the T2DM long bone skeleton and its implications in bone regeneration. This research will be primarily performed in diabetic rodent long bones and will be expanded with oral bone tissues. In addition, exploration of T2DM human oral bone samples, retrieved during oral implant surgery, will be part of the project. Accurate exploration of the T2DM skeletal tissues and its implications in bone tissue engineering require a comprehensive approach by dedicated researchers (broad network of the applicant cf. Letters of commitment) taking advantage of diverse emerging analytical technology.

Keywords:diabetes

Disciplines:Ceramic and glass materials, Materials science and engineering, Semiconductor materials, Other materials engineering