Bones undergo continual construction and deconstruction. With this cycle, bones give up their main nutrient (calcium) to the body. Following this a process of rebuilding takes place. In a healthy person this pattern occurs seamless; described by some biologists as like following a rhythm. However, when the rhythm shifts, which happens with advancing age or with the condition osteoporosis, the rebuilding process slows down. This leads to bone density and strength declining, presenting the risk of a person becoming prone to fracture. With osteoporosis bones may weaken to such a degree that a break may occur with minor stress or spontaneously. Chronic pain and a decreased ability to carry out normal activities may occur following a broken bone.
Current treatments involve the use of drugs called bisphosphonates which work on the cells involved in bone degradation (cells called osteoclasts). Only one drug is available to address cells involved with bone formation (which are called osteoblasts), and here the results are variable due to the complexities in targeting the drug.
With the new treatment, University of Delaware researchers used mathematical modeling to examine the biological function of bone formation. The resultant research was undertaken using mice, treating them with a peptide (short chains of amino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds) called CK2.3. The findings show how the peptide raises bone mineral density. The drug works differently to existing medications in that it manages to decrease bone degradation while simultaneously increasing bone formation.
From the mouse models lead scientist Dr. Prasad Dhurjati has used the mathematical program to calculate the dosages required for human beings. Given that a mouse and a human are obviously very Dr. Dhurjati’s calculations were very complex, far beyond simply adjusting for differences in mass. Variations were required in terms of different concentrations at different bone sites. Other aspects covered by the model included how much of the drug should be taken? How often to take it? And whether the medication should be taken by mouth or injection? Based on the success of these computations, human trials with the promising drug can now proceed.
The findings are published in the journal CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. The research paper is titled “Mathematical modeling of the effects of CK2.3 on mineralization in osteoporotic bone.”
