新突破！广州科研团队用莲藕接骨“塑肉身”，冻豆腐、枸杞、油柑都在研究之列

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the innovative use of lotus root as a natural biomaterial for bone and skin wound healing, highlighting its potential in regenerative medicine and its advantages over traditional materials like bone cement [1][3][9]. Group 1: Lotus Root as a Biomaterial - Lotus root is identified as a high-strength composite material with a natural porous structure, making it suitable for bone repair [3][4]. - Research indicates that using lotus root as a bone repair material significantly accelerates the healing process in animal models compared to control groups [3][13]. - The lotus root scaffold promotes the growth of new blood vessels and nerves, enhancing the microenvironment for bone healing [6][9]. Group 2: Production and Processing - The production of lotus root biomaterials involves simple processes such as freeze-drying and mineralization, which reduce immunogenicity and enhance strength [9][10]. - After processing, the strength of lotus root materials is comparable to human bone, making it a viable alternative to bone cement [9][10]. Group 3: Experimental Validation - Experiments on mice with cranial bone defects showed that lotus root scaffolds led to a healing rate of approximately 50%, significantly higher than untreated controls [13][14]. - Future studies are planned to test the effectiveness of lotus root scaffolds in larger animal models, such as sheep, to address larger bone defects in humans [14][16]. Group 4: Broader Research Initiatives - The research team is also exploring other food materials like frozen tofu and goji berries for their potential applications in biomedical engineering [17]. - The emphasis is on utilizing natural materials to inspire new biomaterials, reflecting a trend towards biomimicry in material science [17]. Group 5: Stem Cell Research - The Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health has made significant advancements in stem cell research, particularly in obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) from human urine [19][20]. - This method is non-invasive and quick, with potential applications in generating functional blood cells for therapeutic purposes [21].