Scientists from the University of Life Sciences in Wrocław and the Institute of Low Temperature and Structural Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences intend to reverse the process of bone resorption. Their new technology could revolutionize the treatment of osteoporosis.

Every third woman suffers from osteoporosis after menopause – the risk of bone fracture in women is around 40%, and in men around 13–22%. This metabolic disease of bone is characterized by low bone mass, impaired microarchitecture of bone tissue and, consequently, increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. In the initial stage, the disease is asymptomatic, which is why it is called a silent bone thief.

Prof. Krzysztof Marycz from the University of Life Sciences in Wrocław explains that osteoporosis is a social disease, and therefore that is so important not only because of its scale, but also economic costs. Using the mRNA technology, Polish scientists are creating a biomaterial allowing them to inhibit the bone fossil process and lead to the reconstruction of the missing bone material.

In the project, which won the highest funding in the Tango 5 competition of the National Center for Research and Development, Prof. Krzysztof Marycz from the Wrocław University proposed the use of inorganic technology to protect organic molecules: mRNA will inhibit osteoclasts (bone-eating cells) and promote osteoblasts (building and enabling calcium deposition in bone) in the defect site.

The innovativeness of the method consists of the precision of locating this process and its regulation. Inserted the biomaterial with mRNA in the place of a specific defect, the doctor will control the order of activation: first, microcapsules of mRNA will open to inhibit osteoclasts, and then new mRNA microcapsules will stimulate osteoblasts to act.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński