Can lithium ion-releasing biomaterials guide bone cell behaviour?

Over 3 million people suffer from osteoporosis in the UK, and the financial burden of treatment and care related to osteoporotic fractures is over £3 billion per year. Bone diseases such as osteoporosis are associated with a decrease in bone mineral density and an increased susceptibility to fracture. Studies have shown that patients receiving therapeutic lithium for the treatment of bipolar disorder exhibit side effects of increasing bone mineral density and reduced risk of bone fracture. This project will test if lithium ions can be released from bone replacement implants to mimic the therapeutic effects observed in these patients.