Dental
Bionacre® Bone Graft
Nacre-based granules for filling bone defects. The first medical-device programme from the platform.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Understand nacre.
Develop biomaterials.
From biomineralisation to tissue interactions: the scientific foundations of the Bionacre® platform and the evidence guiding its development.
BIOMINERALISATION
A remarkable
composition.
Nacre combines calcium carbonate lamellae and trace elements with an organic matrix rich in proteins, peptides and polysaccharides, including chitin. This “brick and mortar” architecture, built by a living organism, is at the heart of Bionacre®.
Our processes aim to preserve this dual composition. Our first programme is Bionacre® Bone Graft: granules being developed for bone regeneration in dental surgery.
Discover Bionacre® Bone Graft
One technology, several pathways
Dental.
Orthopaedics.
In dentistry and orthopaedics, bone regeneration relies on shared biological mechanisms: enabling cell attachment, supporting bone formation and accompanying remodelling. Our research adapts a common biomaterials foundation to the demands of each site.
Coming soon
Bionacre® Bone Graft
Our lead bone regeneration programme.
Product in development · Packaging mock-upResearch, in images
Science before
claims.
From materials characterisation to biological and preclinical studies, each evidence level answers a different question. Published observations on nacre powder provide a research foundation, without clinically validating Bionacre® Bone Graft. They are complemented here by MEGA BIOPHARMA research materials.
A dual composition
Mineral aragonite platelets combined with an organic matrix: the natural architecture of nacre.
Osteoconduction
A scaffold for bone formation, investigated in contact with existing bone tissue.
Bone integration
In the published preclinical model, new bone is deposited around nacre particles.
Biodegradation
Powder degradation observed at eight weeks, studied alongside bone formation.
Published literature: Iandolo et al. (2022), an exploratory study in two sheep, with eight implanted sites and eight controls. At eight weeks: bone formation in contact with nacre and a moderate local inflammatory response. These observations on nacre powder provide a research foundation for the platform.
Read the paperObserve reconstruction in 3D.
Micro-CT comparison of control and nacre-implanted sites, at implantation and at eight weeks.
Iandolo et al., 2022 · Fig. 6 · CC BY 4.0
Preclinical research · MEGA BIOPHARMA material.
Forms & development
One material.
Several forms.
From nacre preparation to tissue-specific formats, our development work addresses composition, morphology, porosity, surface, resorption behaviour and formulation. Granules, powders and compact forms each follow their own research pathway.
Granules
Bionacre® Bone Graft · First programme
Powders
The material in suspension
Compact forms
Nacre plate & screws · Retouched image
Liquids
Formulations under study · Laboratory photograph
Pastes
Formulations under study · Illustrative visual
Other processing
approachesSchematic illustrations
3D printing
From material to biology
Understanding the interface
with living tissue.
Why nacre?
Nacre is a biological composite: its mineral organisation is intimately linked to an organic matrix. This architecture distinguishes it from synthetic calcium carbonate and motivates research into its interactions with tissues.
Which interactions?
Our research explores ion exchange, surface topography, the organic matrix and cellular responses associated with bone formation. The aim is to understand the contribution of each component.
How are they assessed?
Physicochemical characterisation, in vitro studies, histology and preclinical assessment investigate tissue integration, resorption and bone formation. Clinical investigation is a next step for the Bone Graft programme.
SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND
Nacre, examined through research.
Over the past decade, nacre has been the subject of several hundred international scientific publications, notably exploring its biomineralisation, mechanical properties and potential as a biomaterial.
Five publications on nacre topography, its soluble fractions and its behaviour in contact with tissues. These in vitro and preclinical findings inform our research; they do not demonstrate clinical efficacy of Bionacre® Bone Graft.
- 2017
In vitro · Nacre topography
Replicas of nacre topography promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, with higher mineral crystallinity than chemical induction.
Alakpa, E. V. et al. Nacre Topography Produces Higher Crystallinity in Bone than Chemically Induced Osteogenesis. ACS Nano 11, 6717–6727 (2017). - 2026
In vitro · Water-soluble matrix
The water-soluble matrix of nanometer pearl powder increases osteogenic differentiation markers and mineralised nodule formation in hFOB1.19 cell cultures.
Xu, X., Liu, L., Zhang, W. & Xu, P. Effect of the water-soluble matrix of nanometer pearl powder on the osteogenic differentiation of hFOB1.19 cells. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 31, article 8 (2026; published online in 2025). - 2012
Preclinical · Sheep knee
This pilot study of subchondral nacre implants describes cartilage regrowth at three months and osteochondral coverage at six months, with no observed synovial inflammation.
Rousseau, M., Delattre, O., Gillet, P. & Lopez, E. Subchondral nacre implant in the articular zone of the sheep’s knee: A pilot study. Biomedical Materials and Engineering 22, 227–234 (2012). - 2016
Preclinical · Nacre screws in sheep
In six ewes, observations at three and six months describe progressive screw erosion and bone apposition along the transcortical path, with limited endosteal osteoconduction.
Libouban, H., Pascaretti-Grizon, F., Camprasse, G., Camprasse, S. & Chappard, D. In vivo erosion of orthopedic screws prepared from nacre (mother of pearl). Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research 102, 913–918 (2016). - 2021
Preclinical · Osseointegration and erosion
Follow-up for up to twelve months in rats documents bone apposition and progressive erosion of the intraosseous portions of nacre screws. Screw heads outside the bone do not show this erosion.
Kün-Darbois, J.-D., Libouban, H., Camprasse, G., Camprasse, S. & Chappard, D. In vivo osseointegration and erosion of nacre screws in an animal model. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials 109, 780–788 (2021).
Inside our daily work
From discovery
to manufacturing.
MEGA BIOPHARMA combines biomineralisation, materials science, formulation, biological evaluation and industrial know-how to advance nacre-derived innovation.
Meet our teamA documented quality system
ISO 13485
ISO 9001
The GMED and LNE certificates are available on our Manufacturing & quality page.
Processes & certifications
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