Nicolaas Duneas

Last updated

Nicolaas Duneas
Born1972 (age 49–50)
NationalitySouth African
Alma mater University of the Witwatersrand
Known forbone regeneration
Scientific career
InstitutionsAltis Biologics
Thesis Synergistic Interactions of Bone Morphogenetic Protein and Transforming Growth Factor-β in Bone Induction and Regeneration  (1998)
Doctoral advisor Ugo Ripamonti
Website Altis Biologics

Nicolaas Duneas is a South African biochemist and developer of osteogenic biomaterials. [1] [2] He is the co-founder (with Nuno Pires) and CEO of Altis Biologics. [3] [4] The company developed the first injectable treatment for bone injuries that require grafting by using a pig-based growth material. [3]

Contents

Education and career

X-ray of spinal fusion Roe LWS Spondylodese L5-S1 seitlich.jpg
X-ray of spinal fusion

Duneas received a BSc in biochemistry in 1993 from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) and he holds a MBA from WITS. [4] He also holds a Ph.D. from the WITS faculty of medicine. [3] From 1993 until 1997 he worked as research officer for the University of the Witwatersrand. [4]

In 2002 he founded Altis Biologics (a biotech company) together with Nuno Pires. [5] [6] Duneas was appointed CEO of Altis Biologics in 2002. [4]

The company focusses on bone regeneration. [5] Traditionally, when repairing a severe bone break involving a void, new bone is taken from the hip and donated to the required site. This results in permanent disfigurement of the hip and complications such as hip displacement, buttock anaesthesia and severe infections during surgery. Altis Biologics developed a method to use pig bone which had been altered to make it human compatible and also make it injectable, removing the need for surgery. [3] The method is particularly suitable for use in spinal fusion procedures. [6]

The research for this method began in 1994 and included pre-clinical and clinical studies (in collaboration with universities) that finally culminated in a product that was patented in 2006. In 2012 the method was approved by the largest South African medical aid (Discovery Health) and since then more than 1000 patients have been implanted with the bone graft. The tissue used in the bone grafts is manufactured in South Africa, removing the previous need to import bone graft material from the USA and Europe. [3]

From 2008 until 2010 Duneas also served as managing director of Altis Biologics. He has remained CEO since 2002. [4]

In 2014 Duneas was interviewed by Alec Hogg for The Rational Perspective (hosted on BizNews) on Sizing up African Technology Opportunities. [7] At the 2017 Healthcare Innovation Summit Africa he presented on bone regeneration technologies. [8]

Awards

In 2014 Duneas and Nuno Pires were awarded the Innovation Prize for Africa for the Altis Osteogenic Bone Matrix. This was the first injectable treatment for injuries requiring bone grafts using a porcine-derived regenerative biological implant. Duneas and Pires received US$100 000. [1] [9]

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

Platelet-derived growth factor Signaling glycoprotein regulating cell proliferation

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is one among numerous growth factors that regulate cell growth and division. In particular, PDGF plays a significant role in blood vessel formation, the growth of blood vessels from already-existing blood vessel tissue, mitogenesis, i.e. proliferation, of mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, tenocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells and mesenchymal stem cells as well as chemotaxis, the directed migration, of mesenchymal cells. Platelet-derived growth factor is a dimeric glycoprotein that can be composed of two A subunits (PDGF-AA), two B subunits (PDGF-BB), or one of each (PDGF-AB).

Chondrocyte Cell that makes up cartilage

Chondrocytes are the only cells found in healthy cartilage. They produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of collagen and proteoglycans. Although the word chondroblast is commonly used to describe an immature chondrocyte, the term is imprecise, since the progenitor of chondrocytes can differentiate into various cell types, including osteoblasts.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a group of growth factors also known as cytokines and as metabologens. Originally discovered by their ability to induce the formation of bone and cartilage, BMPs are now considered to constitute a group of pivotal morphogenetic signals, orchestrating tissue architecture throughout the body. The important functioning of BMP signals in physiology is emphasized by the multitude of roles for dysregulated BMP signalling in pathological processes. Cancerous disease often involves misregulation of the BMP signalling system. Absence of BMP signalling is, for instance, an important factor in the progression of colon cancer, and conversely, overactivation of BMP signalling following reflux-induced esophagitis provokes Barrett's esophagus and is thus instrumental in the development of adenocarcinoma in the proximal portion of the gastrointestinal tract.

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 or BMP7 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BMP7 gene.

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 or BMP-2 belongs to the TGF-β superfamily of proteins.

Bone morphogenetic protein 4

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by BMP4 gene. BMP4 is found on chromosome 14q22-q23.

Bone morphogenetic protein 8B

Bone morphogenetic protein 8B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BMP8B gene.

Bone morphogenetic protein 6

Bone morphogenetic protein 6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BMP6 gene.

Bone morphogenetic protein 5

Bone morphogenetic protein 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BMP5 gene.

Bone morphogenetic protein 3, also known as osteogenin, is a protein in humans that is encoded by the BMP3 gene.

BMPR1A Bone morphogenetic protein receptor

The bone morphogenetic protein receptor, type IA also known as BMPR1A is a protein which in humans is encoded by the BMPR1A gene. BMPR1A has also been designated as CD292.

Growth differentiation factors (GDFs) are a subfamily of proteins belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily that have functions predominantly in development.

GDF2

Growth differentiation factor 2 (GDF2) also known as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-9 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GDF2 gene. GDF2 belongs to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily.

GDF5

Growth/differentiation factor 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GDF5 gene.

GDF6

Growth differentiation factor 6 (GDF6) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GDF6 gene.

GDF10

Growth differentiation factor 10 (GDF10) also known as bone morphogenetic protein 3B (BMP-3B) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GDF10 gene.

A fibrin scaffold is a network of protein that holds together and supports a variety of living tissues. It is produced naturally by the body after injury, but also can be engineered as a tissue substitute to speed healing. The scaffold consists of naturally occurring biomaterials composed of a cross-linked fibrin network and has a broad use in biomedical applications.

A. Hari Reddi is a Distinguished Professor and holder of the Lawrence J. Ellison Endowed Chair in Musculoskeletal Molecular Biology at the University of California, Davis. He was previously the Virginia M. and William A. Percy Chair and Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Biological Chemistry, and Professor of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Professor Reddi's research played an indispensable role in the identification, isolation and purification of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) that are involved in bone formation and repair. The molecular mechanism of bone induction studied by Professor Reddi led to the conceptual advance in tissue engineering that morphogens/metabologens bound to an insoluble extracellular matrix scaffolding act in collaboration to stimulate stem cells to form cartilage and bone. The Reddi laboratory has also made important discoveries unraveling the role of the extracellular matrix in bone and cartilage tissue regeneration and repair.

A bone growth factor is a growth factor that stimulates the growth of bone tissue.

Nuno Pires is a businessman from South Africa. He is the co-founder of Altis Biologics.

References

  1. 1 2 "Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2015 now open". next billion. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  2. ↑ "Altis Biologics (PTY) Ltd". www.altisbiologics.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Mpondo, Pulane (3 July 2017). "Altis Biologics | The Innovation Hub". The innovation hub. City of Tshwane. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nicolaas Duneas - AngelList". angel.co. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  5. 1 2 Gaylard, Alison; Urban, Boris (6 March 2016). "Altis Biologics: From Labs to Riches?". SAGE Business Cases - WITS Business School. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  6. 1 2 Looney, William (March 2015). "BioScience Bounty: Africa's Emerging Geography of Ideas" (PDF). Pharmaceutical Executive. 35 (3): 39. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ↑ "Sizing up African technology opportunities: Stafford Masie, Nicolaas Duneas". The Rational Perspective. BizNews Africa. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Dr Nic Duneas Discusses Bone Regeneration Technologies From Africa - YouTube". YouTube.com. IT News Africa. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "US$150 000 cash awarded to Africa's brightest innovators - CNBC Africa". CNBC Africa. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  10. ↑ Ripamonti, U; Bosch, C; van den Heever, B; Duneas, N; Melsen, B; Ebner, R (1996). "Limited chondro-osteogenesis by recombinant human transforming growth factor-beta 1 in calvarial defects of adult baboons (Papio ursinus)". J Bone Miner Res. 11 (7): 938–45. doi:10.1002/jbmr.5650110710. PMID   8797114. S2CID   35150016.
  11. ↑ Ripamonti, U; Duneas, N; Van Den Heever, B; Bosch, C; Crooks, J (1997). "Recombinant transforming growth factor-beta1 induces endochondral bone in the baboon and synergizes with recombinant osteogenic protein-1 (bone morphogenetic protein-7) to initiate rapid bone formation". J Bone Miner Res. 12 (10): 1584–95. doi:10.1359/jbmr.1997.12.10.1584. PMID   9333119. S2CID   22639873.
  12. ↑ Duneas, N; Crooks, J; Ripamonti, U (1998). "Transforming growth factor-beta 1: induction of bone morphogenetic protein genes expression during endochondral bone formation in the baboon, and synergistic interaction with osteogenic protein-1 (BMP-7)". Growth Factors. 15 (4): 259–77. doi:10.3109/08977199809017482. PMID   9714911.
  13. ↑ Ripamonti, U; Duneas, N (1998). "Tissue morphogenesis and regeneration by bone morphogenetic proteins". Plast Reconstr Surg. 101 (1): 227–39. doi:10.1097/00006534-199801000-00040. PMID   9427942.
  14. ↑ "Altis Biologics (Pty) Ltd TISSUE ENGINEERING OF BONE" (PDF). BioSA. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Sibiya, SJ; Olivier, EI; Duneas, N (2013). "High yield isolation of BMP-2 from bone and in vivo activity of a combination of BMP-2/TGF-β1". J Biomed Mater Res A. 101 (3): 641–6. doi:10.1002/jbm.a.34365. PMID   22927042.
  16. ↑ Mohangi, GU; Rothman, B; van Zyl, AW; Duneas, N (2012). "Enhanced activity of demineralised bone matrix augmented with xenogeneic bone morphogenetic protein complex in rats". South African Dental Journal. 67 (7): 354–8. PMID   23951792.
  17. ↑ Anyango, JO; Duneas, N; Taylor, JR; Taylor, J (2012). "Physicochemical modification of kafirin microparticles and their ability to bind bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), for application as a biomaterial" (PDF). J Agric Food Chem. 60 (34): 8419–26. doi:10.1021/jf302533e. hdl: 2263/19896 . PMID   22867133.
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