Nanoparticle-modified chitosan-agarose-gelatin scaffold for sustained release of SDF-1 and BMP-2

Sialic acid-modified chitosan oligosaccharide-based biphasic calcium phosphate promote synergetic bone formation in rheumatoid arthritis therapy

Therapeutic goals for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) consist of inhibiting the inflammatory response and repairing the damaged bone/cartilage. Tissue engineering could achieve both goals, however, it was hindered due to the lack of biologically relevant tissue complexity, limitation in covering the entire polyarthritis lesions and requirement of extra surgical implantation. Integrating nanotechnologies into clinically sized implants represents a major opportunity to overcome these problems. Herein, we designed a sialic acid (SA)-modified chitosan oligosaccharide-based biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), a biomimetic nanoplatform that could load with methotrexate. We found that SA modification could not only improve the accumulation of the designed organic-inorganic nanoplatform in arthritic paws (34.38% higher than those without SA modification at 48 h), but also cooperate with BCP to exert synergetic mineralization of calcium phosphate, allowing more osteoblasts to attach, proliferate and differentiate. The more differentiated osteoblasts produced 4.46-fold type I collagen and 2.60-fold osteoprotegerin compared to the control group. Besides, the disassembled nanorods released chitosan oligosaccharide-based micelles, revealing a cartilage-protective effect by reducing the loss of glycosaminoglycan. All these improvements contributed to the light inflammatory response and reduced destruction on cartilage/bone. The findings provide a novel strategy for RA therapy via nanometer-scale dimension mimicking the natural tissues.

Applications of chitin and chitosan nanofibers in bone regenerative engineering

Promoting bone regeneration and repairing defects are urgent and critical challenges in orthopedic clinical practice. Research on bone substitute biomaterials is essential for improving the treatment strategies for bone regeneration. Chitin and its derivative, chitosan, are among the most abundant natural biomaterials and widely found in the shells of crustaceans. Chitin and chitosan are non-toxic, antibacterial, biocompatible, degradable, and have attracted significant attention in bone substitute biomaterials. Chitin/chitosan nanofibers and nanostructured scaffolds have large surface area to volume ratios and high porosities. These scaffolds can be fabricated by electrospinning, thermally induced phase separation and self-assembly, and are widely used in biomedical applications such as biological scaffolds, drug delivery, bacterial inhibition, and wound dressing. Recently, some chitin/chitosan-based nanofibrous scaffolds have been found structurally similar to bone's extracellular matrix and can assist in bone regeneration. This review outlines the biomedical applications and biological properties of chitin/chitosan-based nanofibrous scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.

Biomaterials for bone tissue engineering scaffolds: a review

Bone tissue engineering has been continuously developing since the concept of "tissue engineering" has been proposed. Biomaterials that are used as the basic material for the fabrication of scaffolds play a vital role in bone tissue engineering. This paper first introduces a strategy for literature search. Then, it describes the structure, mechanical properties and materials of natural bone and the strategies of bone tissue engineering. Particularly, it focuses on the current knowledge about biomaterials used in the fabrication of bone tissue engineering scaffolds, which includes the history, types, properties and applications of biomaterials. The effects of additives such as signaling molecules, stem cells, and functional materials on the performance of the scaffolds are also discussed.

Dual delivery of encapsulated BM-MSCs and BMP-2 improves osteogenic differentiation and new bone formation

Stem cell-based therapies provide a promising approach for bone repair. In the present work, we developed a novel 3D vehicle system for dual-delivery of encapsulated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) for treatment of large bone defects. The vehicle system consists of sodium alginate microcapsules and polylactic acid (PLLA) microspheres. BM-MSCs are encapsulated in the microcapsules, and BMP-2 proteins are encapsulated in the PLLA microspheres. This vehicle system acted as a multicore structure for sustained release of BMP-2, which enabled pulsed dosing induction of osteogenic differentiation of the co-embedded BM-MSCs. in vitro experiments showed that the loaded BMP-2 was constitutively released up to 30 days. Bioactivity of the incorporated BMP-2 in the microspheres was preserved and osteogenic differentiation of the BM-MSCs in the microcapsules was improved. In vivo, osteogenesis studies demonstrated that satisfactory degree of repair of a rat calvarial defect was achieved with the delivery of either encapsulated BM-MSCs alone or encapsulated BMP-2 alone. Transplantation of encapsulated both BM-MSCs and BMP-2 exhibited the greatest repair potential following 4- or 8-weeks treatment. In conclusion, microencapsulation of BM-MSCs and BMP-2 promoted the maturity of newly generated bone and improved new bone formation. Transplantation of BM-MSCs and BMP-2 in our novel 3-D vehicle system is a promising strategy for regenerative therapies of large bone defects.

Scaffold implantation in the omentum majus of rabbits for new bone formation

Restoration of the mandible after defects caused by ablative surgery remains challenging. Microvascular free flaps from the scapula, fibula or iliac crest remain the 'gold standard'. A drawback of these methods is donor-side morbidity, availability and the shape of the bone. Former cases have shown that prefabrication of a customized bone flap in the latissimus dorsi muscle may be successful; however, this method is still associated with high donor-side morbidity. Osteogenesis in the omentum majus of rabbits by wrapping the periosteum into it was confirmed recently and is particularly interesting for bone endocultivation. Twelve adult male New Zealand white rabbits were used. In each, two hydroxyapatite blocks were implanted in the greater omentum with autologous bone or autologous bone + rhBMP-2. Bone density measurements were performed by CT scans. Fluorochrome labelling was used for new bone formation detection. The animals were sacrificed at week 10, and the specimens were harvested for histological and histomorphometric analysis. In histological and fluorescence microscopic analysis, new bone formation could be found, as well as new blood vessels and connective tissue. No significant differences were found regarding the histological analysis and bone density measurements between the groups. It could be demonstrated that the omentum majus is a practical way to use one's own body as a bioreactor for prefabrication of tissue-engineered bony constructs. Regarding the influence and exact dose of rhBMP-2, further research is necessary. To establish and improve this method, further large-animal experimental studies are also necessary.

Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells derived mesenchymal stem cells into corneal epithelial cells after being seeded on decellularized SMILE-derived lenticules

AIM

To evaluate the feasibility of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into corneal epithelial cells after being seeded on the decellularized small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)-derived lenticules.

METHODS

The fresh lenticules procured from patients undergoing SMILE for the correction of myopia were decellularized. The MSCs were subsequently cultivated on those denuded lenticules. The MSCs without lenticules were used as a control. The proliferation activity of the MSCs after seeding 24h was quantitatively determined with the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Immunofluorescence staining and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to assess the marker expression in differentiated MSCs.

RESULTS

The data showed that both fresh and decellularized lenticules could significantly promote the proliferation of MSCs, compared to that in control (P=0.02 for fresh lenticules, P=0.001 for decellularize ones, respectively). The MSCs seeded on both lenticules were positive for cytokeratin 3 (CK3) staining. The expression of CK3 increased 5-fold in MSCs seeded on fresh lenticules and 18-fold on decellularized ones, compared to that in control. There was a significant difference in the expression of CK3 in MSCs seeded on fresh and decellularized lenticules (P<0.001). The expression of CK8 and CK18 was similar in pure MSCs and MSCs seeded on fresh lenticules (P>0.05), while the expression of these markers was decreased in MSCs seeded on decellularized ones.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the decellularized lenticules might be more suitable for MSCs to differentiate into corneal epithelial cells, which offers the prospect of a novel therapeutic modality of SMILE-derived lenticules in regenerative corneal engineering.