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EDITORIAL |
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Year : 2018 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 3 | Page : 79 |
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Translational research with autologous biomaterials: A new perspective
Carlos Fernando De Almeida Barros Mourão
Editor-in-chief at International Journal of Growth Factors and Stem Cells in Dentistry
Date of Web Publication | 8-Nov-2018 |
Correspondence Address: Prof. Carlos Fernando De Almeida Barros Mourão Rua Mario Santos Braga, 28/4 Andar, Centro, Niterói, RJ
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None | 1 |
DOI: 10.4103/GFSC.GFSC_28_18
How to cite this article: Barros Mourão CF. Translational research with autologous biomaterials: A new perspective. Int J Growth Factors Stem Cells Dent 2018;1:79 |
Nowadays, research with different materials for clinical application is constantly evolving at a breakneck pace. To advance scientifically a translational study is necessary, especially with materials that will be applied in humans.
Put simply, translational research studies the behavior of various materials for implantation/use in humans, from the in vitro study to the bedside.
Blood-derived growth factors have not been researched using translational research methodology.
When this by-product from the blood was first produced, it was applied directly in humans, without undergoing experimental studies and/or clinical trials. These applications were done because these blood derivatives were treated only as a blood clot or a portion of the plasma, especially those that did not have anticoagulants (second generation of blood-derived growth factors). Thus, no experimental studies were done, that could quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate these autologous biomaterials.
The use of these biomaterials directly at the bedside and later in clinical studies can raise doubts for those who research this, and especially to those who use it in daily practice (e.g., What is the maximum time from centrifugation to the application before degradation occurs?). Whenever doubts arise regarding the use of these biomaterials, the research should return to in vitro studies and/or experimental research and/or clinical studies. Moreover, for this second generation of biomaterials derived from blood, what had been just the “application of a clot,” has become a constantly developing process for the improvement of this “clot.”
Since biomaterials were developed approximately 20 years ago, insufficient research has been done on its new applications/potential use. That is why new doubts still arise regarding its effects and applications.
To emphasize what was written previously: “There has not been any in depth translational study with biomaterials derived from blood until now.”
This demonstrates why we should pay more attention to the potential of different by-products derived from the human body that can be used in research for future applications.
An example of translational research with these by-products is the continuously increasing knowledge and application of stem cells. Even though some rejected the research done with these cells at first, nowadays, the use of these cells at the bedside is very close to becoming a reality. Therefore, when new doubts arise, researchers will be led back to the bench (in vitro studies). We can call this process a translational study.
Thus, we can see that we have great potential within our reach. To realize the full potential of all autologous by-products, the development of new in vitro, experimental and clinical trials are needed to better understand the possibilities and applications of these biomaterials, following the Translational study research methodology.
We are living in a new era. Researching today-for a better tomorrow.
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