Dental
Bionacre® Bone Graft
Nacre-based granules for filling bone defects. The first medical-device programme from the platform.
Biomaterials platform
Bionacre®.
From nacre
to biomaterials.
MEGA BIOPHARMA develops nacre-derived biomaterials for bone and tissue regeneration in dental surgery and orthopaedics. Bionacre® Bone Graft is our lead programme. Orthopaedic components extend this research around a shared objective: bone repair.
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.
MEGA Dental · Distribution
From research
to practitioners.
MEGA BIOPHARMA and MEGA Dental share the same founder, Joël Drai, and roots in the dental sector.
MEGA BIOPHARMA develops biomaterials. MEGA Dental, a distributor of dental products and equipment, contributes its understanding of dental practices and its distribution network in France.
This network will support the future distribution of Bionacre® Bone Graft, subject to the necessary authorisations.
Discover MEGA Dental ↗Research, 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 images show bone architecture in control and implanted defects. The study describes continuity between existing and new bone in nacre-filled sites. It finds no significant difference in relative bone volume (BV/TV) between groups.
Iandolo et al., 2022 · Fig. 6 · CC BY 4.0
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
Geometries to explore
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
Understanding bone substitutes.
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.
This selection of scientific reviews covers bone substitutes and their applications. These general references provide context for our research; they do not concern the clinical validation of Bionacre® Bone Graft.
- Haugen HJ et al. Bone grafts: which is the ideal biomaterial? Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2019.
- Yamada M et al. Current bone substitutes for implant dentistry. Journal of Prosthodontic Research, 2018.
- Giannoudis PV et al. What should be the characteristics of the ideal bone graft substitute? Injury, 2011.
- Campana V et al. Bone substitutes in orthopaedic surgery: from basic science to clinical practice. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2014.
At the heart of the material
From the shell
to the microscopic.
Enter a Pinctada maxima shell. Move closer to its surface. Discover its platelets.
From shell to platelets
Pinctada
maxima.
It begins with a shell. The shell of the pearl oyster Pinctada maxima, whose nacre we explore.
Beneath the reflections,
the material.
Move closer to the inner surface. The nacreous surface is the starting point for exploration at another scale.
An architecture
of platelets.
Nacre combines mineral platelets with an organic fraction. This layered organisation lies at the heart of our interest in this biomaterial.
An illustrative journey between separate views. Transitions do not represent calibrated microscopic magnification.
Nacre in powder form.
Nacre powder is being studied for different formulations. This work complements research into granules and compact forms.
Bionacre® technologyExploring other geometries.
Compact forms make it possible to explore other geometries. These nacre plates illustrate research into shaping this biomaterial.
Bionacre® technologyAn application already on the market
Blue Skincare
Alongside our bone-regeneration programmes, our expertise in nacre has led to the development of a dermo-cosmetic range already on the market, with a particular focus on fragile skin, including skin prone to atopy or psoriasis.
Visit the e-shop ↗Customer satisfaction
4.9/5
More than 900 verified reviews reported by Blue Skincare: a rating that reflects strong satisfaction with the skincare products.
Read customer reviews ↗Rating displayed on the Blue Skincare website, accessed 1 October 2026. Feedback on cosmetic skincare products.Our roots
In France.
At the heart of innovation.
A French company, with research and manufacturing activities in France and a network to support our projects.
BioLabs Hôtel-Dieu
Based in the heart of the Paris life sciences ecosystem.
Bpifrance
Supporting the development of our company and our innovations.
Medicen Paris Region
A project endorsed by Medicen for an application to the i-Nov competition.
Made in FranceResearch & manufacturing
French TechPart of the ecosystem
BioLabs · Paris
An environment
for research.
Our presence in the BioLabs ecosystem complements our research and manufacturing activities in Crosne. In Paris, BioLabs combines offices and coworking spaces at Hôtel-Dieu with equipped laboratories on the Broussais campus.
Explore BioLabs Paris ↗Let’s discuss your project