Swiss scientists have developed a new injectable hydrogel. According to them, it can significantly increase bone density in just 2 weeks.

The hydrogel was created by Prof. Dominic Pioletti and his team. It consists of hyaluronic acid and nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite, which is the main component of bone tissue. In laboratory tests, the hydrogel was injected into weak spots in the bones of rats, and it resulted in a 2-3 fold increase in bone density in just 2-4 weeks.

Now osteoporosis is treated with drugs that either slow down the destruction of old bones or help the formation of new ones. However, patients may experience unpleasant side effects while they wait for the treatment to take effect.

The scientists hope to get approval soon to start human trials of their hydrogel