A novel mineral-organic bone adhesive promotes calvarial bone regeneration in microgravity conditions

Microgravity significantly impacts astronaut physiology, causing accelerated bone loss and impairing bone regeneration. As human space exploration expands, effective and minimally invasive bone repair treatments are crucial. In this study, we investigated the regenerative potential of a novel mineral-organic bone adhesive, Tetranite® (TN), compared to the osteoinductive rhBMP2 (Infuse®). We used a critical-size calvarial bone defect model in mice, with half launched on a 60-day mission to the International Space Station and the other half serving as ground controls. Histological and quantitative micro-computed tomography (MicroCT) analyses confirmed that both TN and rhBMP2 promoted bone regeneration in both spaceflight and ground conditions. While both biomaterials were effective, TN's regenerative effect was more localized to the defect site. Our findings demonstrate that TN implantation effectively promotes calvarial bone regeneration under both microgravity and terrestrial conditions. This suggests its potential as a minimally invasive clinical solution for treating bone fractures during future space missions and on Earth.