Bone grafts may be better with a new sea coral material.

Researchers at Swansea University in the UK have converted the calcium carbonate of sea coral found south of China into a biodegradable material for bone grafts.  The material's abbreviated name is CHACC.  This new material's rate of degradation is similar to the body's rate of repairing damaged bone.   In clinical trials, each of the patients had observable healing of the bone within 4 months, and the material degraded within 18-24 months.  The researchers are working to incorporate growth factors into the graph to improve healing.
I found this interesting due to our connection with Swansea University.  We also studied bone grafts in a SNBAL earlier this year.  In the article, I found it interesting how difficult a task those working with biomaterials have:they must match the rate of graft degradation with the rate of bone repair.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269512.php