Building better bone

Bone Healing Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) can promote superior bone growth compared with autograft, historically considered the “gold standard” for bone repair. However, high concentrations of BMP are typically required. Seeherman et al. developed chimeric BMPs with improved potency and an optimized carrier matrix. The chimeric BMPs had improved binding affinity, activated BMP target genes in cells, and produced greater bone formation in rats. Complete bone healing was observed in nonhuman primate models of open fracture, using composite carrier to deliver concentrations of chimeric BMP that were lower than those approved for clinical use. Sci. Transl. Med. 11 , eaar4953 (2019).