The Bio-chemical Mechanism of Osteoinduction
The defining characteristic of DBM is its osteoinductive potential. When standard bone is demineralized using an acid wash (typically hydrochloric acid), the process strips away the mineralized "shield" that usually hides growth factors.
This exposes type I collagen and non-collagenous proteins like TGF-beta and BMPs. These factors act as chemical signals that recruit mesenchymal stem cells to the surgical site and "program" them to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts.
Beyond signaling, DBM provides an osteoconductive scaffold. The remaining organic matrix creates a three-dimensional microstructure with interconnected pores. These pores allow for "angiogenesis"—the growth of new blood vessels—which is a prerequisite for any permanent bone healing. In 2026, researchers have perfected the demineralization levels to ensure that while the matrix is soft and malleable, the protein integrity remains uncompromised by the acid treatment.