The effect of Zn contents on phase composition, chemical stability and cellular bioactivity in Zn-Ca-Si system ceramics

Calcium silicate/gelatin composite scaffolds with controllable degradation behavior: Fabrication and evaluation

Calcium silicate can be used as an excellent material for biodegradable bone scaffolds because it can provide bioactive ions to promote bone regeneration. However, the brittleness and rapid degradation of calcium silicate scaffolds have significantly limited their clinical application. In this work, the calcium silicate scaffolds printed by DLP technology were immersed in a gelatin solution under high vacuum condition to obtain calcium silicate/gelatin composite scaffolds with good mechanical and biological properties. Then, genipin was used as a cross-linker for gelatin to control the degradation properties of the composite scaffolds. The initial compressive strength and toughness of the composite scaffolds were 5.0 times and one order of magnitude higher than those of the pure calcium silicate scaffolds, respectively. The gelatin on the surface of the scaffolds could effectively act as a protective layer to regulate the degradation behaviors of the calcium silicate substrate through controlling the crosslinking degree of the gelatin. After degrading for 14 days, the composite scaffolds at 1.0 % genipin concentration exhibited the highest compressive strength of 8.6 ± 0.8 MPa, much higher than that of the pure ceramic scaffold (1.5 ± 0.3 MPa). It can be found that the toughness of the composite scaffolds were almost over 13.2 times higher than that of the pure ceramic scaffold during degradation, despite the higher toughness loss for the former. Furthermore, the composite scaffolds showed enhanced cell biocompatibility and viability. These results demonstrate that the calcium silicate/gelatin composite scaffolds can be a promising candidate in bone tissue regeneration.

Dual-core-component multiphasic bioceramic granules with selective-area porous structures facilitating bone tissue regeneration and repair

Ca-phosphate/-silicate ceramic granules have been widely studied because their biodegradable fillers can enhance bone defect repair accompanied with bioactive ion release and material degradation; however, it is a challenge to endow bioceramic composites with time-dependent ion release and highly efficient osteogenesis in vivo. Herein, we prepared dual-core-type bioceramic granules with varying chemical compositions beneficial for controlling ion release and stimulating osteogenic capability. Core-shell-structured bioceramic granules (P8-Sr4@Zn3, P8-Sr4@TCP, and P8-Sr4@HAR) composed of 8% P- and 4% Sr-substituting wollastonite (P8, Sr4) dual core components and different shell components, such as 3% Zn-substituting wollastonite (Zn3), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and hardystonite (HAR), were prepared by cutting extruded core-shell fibers through dual-core ternary nozzles, followed by high-temperature sintering post-treatment. The experimental results showed that nonstoichiometric wollastonite core components contributed to more biologically active ion release in Tris buffer in vitro, and the sparingly dissolvable shell component readily maintained the granule morphology in vivo; thus, such bioceramic implants can adjust new bone growth and material degradation over time. In particular, bioceramic granules encapsulated by the TCP shell exhibited the most appreciable osteogenic capacity and expected biodegradation, which was mostly favorable for bone repair in critical bone defects. It is reasonable to consider that this new multiphasic bioceramic granule design is versatile for developing next-generation implants for various bone damage repairs.

New insight into biodegradable macropore filler on tuning mechanical properties and bone tissue ingrowth in sparingly dissolvable bioceramic scaffolds

Structural parameters of the implants such as shape, size, and porosity of the pores have been extensively investigated to promote bone tissue repair, however, it is unknown how the pore interconnectivity affects the bone growth behaviors in the scaffolds. Herein we systematically evaluated the effect of biodegradable bioceramics as a secondary phase filler in the macroporous networks on the mechanical and osteogenic behaviors in sparingly dissolvable bioceramic scaffolds. The pure hardystonite (HT) scaffolds with ∼550 & 800 μm in pore sizes were prepared by digital light processing, and then the Sr-doped calcium silicate (SrCSi) bioceramic slurry without and with 30 % organic porogens were intruded into the HT scaffolds with 800 μm pore size and sintered at 1150 °C. It indicated that the organic porogens could endow spherical micropores in the SrCSi filler, and the invasion of the SrCSi component could not only significantly enhance the compressive strength and modulus of the HT-based scaffolds, but also induce osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The pure HT scaffolds showed extremely slow bio-dissolution in Tris buffer after immersion for 8 weeks (∼1 % mass decay); in contrast, the SrCSi filler would readily dissolve into the aqueous medium and produced a steady mass decay (>6 % mass loss). In vivo experiments in rabbit femoral bone defect models showed that the pure HT scaffolds showed bone tissue ingrowth but the bone growth was impeded in the SrCSi-intruded scaffolds within 4 weeks; however, the group with higher porosity of SrCSi filler showed appreciable osteogenesis after 8 weeks of implantation and the whole scaffold was uniformly covered by new bone tissues after 16 weeks. These findings provide some new insights that the pore interconnectivity is not inevitable to impede bone ingrowth with the prolongation of implantation time, and such a highly biodegradable and bioactive filler intrusion strategy may be beneficial for optimizing the performances of scaffolds in bone regenerative medicine applications.

Core-shell bioceramic fiber-derived biphasic granules with adjustable core compositions for tuning bone regeneration efficacy

Silicate-based biomaterials-clinically applied fillers and promising candidates-can act as a highly biocompatible substrate for osteostimulative osteogenic cell growth in vitro and in vivo. These biomaterials have been proven to exhibit a variety of conventional morphologies in bone repair, including scaffolds, granules, coatings and cement pastes. Herein, we aim to develop a series of novel bioceramic fiber-derived granules with core-shell structures which have a hardystonite (HT) shell layer and changeable core components-that is, the chemical compositions of a core layer can be tuned to include a wide range of silicate candidates (e.g., wollastonite (CSi)) with doping of functional ions (e.g., Mg, P, and Sr). Meanwhile, it is versatile to control the biodegradation and bioactive ion release sufficiently for stimulating new bone growth after implantation. Our method employs rapidly gelling ultralong core-shell CSi@HT fibers derived from different polymer hydrosol-loaded inorganic powder slurries through the coaxially aligned bilayer nozzles, followed by cutting and sintering treatments. It was demonstrated that the nonstoichiometric CSi core component could contribute to faster bio-dissolution and biologically active ion release in tris buffer in vitro. The rabbit femoral bone defect repair experiments in vivo indicated that core-shell bioceramic granules with an 8% P-doped CSi-core could significantly stimulate osteogenic potential favorable for bone repair. It is worth concluding that such a tunable component distribution strategy in fiber-type bioceramic implants may develop new-generation composite biomaterials endowed with time-dependent biodegradation and high osteostimulative activities for a range of bone repair applications in situ.

Next-generation finely controlled graded porous antibacterial bioceramics for high-efficiency vascularization in orbital reconstruction

Eyeball loss due to severe ocular trauma, intraocular malignancy or infection often requires surgical treatment called orbital implant reconstruction to rehabilitate the orbital volume and restore the aesthetic appearance. However, it remains a challenge to minimize the postoperative exposure and infection complications due to the inert nature of conventional orbital implants. Herein, we developed a novel Ca–Zn-silicate bioceramic implant with multi-functions to achieve the expected outcomes. The porous hardystonite (Ca₂ZnSi₂O₇) scaffolds with triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS)-based pore architecture and graded pore size distribution from center to periphery (from 500 to 800 μm or vice versa) were fabricated through the digital light processing (DLP) technique, and the scaffolds with homogeneous pores (500 or 800 μm) were fabricated as control. The graded porous scaffolds exhibited a controlled bio-dissolving behavior and intermediate mechanical strength in comparison with the homogeneous counterparts, although all of porous implants presented significant antibacterial potential against S. aureus and E. coli. Meanwhile, the pore size-increasing scaffolds indicated more substantial cell adhesion, cell viability and angiogenesis-related gene expression in vitro. Furthermore, the gradually increasing pore feature exhibited a stronger blood vessel infiltrating potential in the dorsal muscle embedding model, and the spherical implants with such pore structure could achieve complete vascularization within 4 weeks in the eyeball enucleation rabbit models. Overall, our results suggested that the novel antibacterial hardystonite bioceramic with graded pore design has excellent potential as a next-generation orbital implant, and the pore topological features offer an opportunity for the improvement of biological performances in orbital reconstruction.

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The graded porous bioceramics were fabricated through computer-assisted design and digital light processing technique.

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The graded pore architecture could control the biodegradation and mechanical behavior of porous bioceramics.

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The porous Ca-Zn-silicate bioceramics exhibited significant antibacterial potentials against S. aureus and E. coli.

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The gradually increasing pore size feature of scaffolds contributes to cell activity and vascular infiltration.

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The graded porous bioceramics implants achieved complete vascularization within 4 weeks in the enucleation animal model.

Advances and Prospects in Antibacterial-Osteogenic Multifunctional Dental Implant Surface

In recent years, dental implantation has become the preferred protocol for restoring dentition defects. Being the direct contact between implant and bone interface, osseointegration is the basis for implant exerting physiological functions. Nevertheless, biological complications such as insufficient bone volume, poor osseointegration, and postoperative infection can lead to implant failure. Emerging antibacterial-osteogenic multifunctional implant surfaces were designed to make up for these shortcomings both during the stage of forming osseointegration and in the long term of supporting the superstructure. In this mini-review, we summarized the recent antibacterial-osteogenic modifications of the dental implant surface. The effects of these modifications on biological performance like soft tissue integration, bone osteogenesis, and immune response were discussed. In addition, the clinical findings and prospects of emerging antibacterial-osteogenic implant materials were also discussed.

Biodegradable materials for bone defect repair

Compared with non-degradable materials, biodegradable biomaterials play an increasingly important role in the repairing of severe bone defects, and have attracted extensive attention from researchers. In the treatment of bone defects, scaffolds made of biodegradable materials can provide a crawling bridge for new bone tissue in the gap and a platform for cells and growth factors to play a physiological role, which will eventually be degraded and absorbed in the body and be replaced by the new bone tissue. Traditional biodegradable materials include polymers, ceramics and metals, which have been used in bone defect repairing for many years. Although these materials have more or fewer shortcomings, they are still the cornerstone of our development of a new generation of degradable materials. With the rapid development of modern science and technology, in the twenty-first century, more and more kinds of new biodegradable materials emerge in endlessly, such as new intelligent micro-nano materials and cell-based products. At the same time, there are many new fabrication technologies of improving biodegradable materials, such as modular fabrication, 3D and 4D printing, interface reinforcement and nanotechnology. This review will introduce various kinds of biodegradable materials commonly used in bone defect repairing, especially the newly emerging materials and their fabrication technology in recent years, and look forward to the future research direction, hoping to provide researchers in the field with some inspiration and reference.

Highly Porous Polymer-Derived Bioceramics Based on a Complex Hardystonite Solid Solution

Highly porous bioceramics, based on a complex hardystonite solid solution, were developed from silicone resins and micro-sized oxide fillers fired in air at 950 °C. Besides CaO, SrO, MgO, and ZnO precursors, and the commercial embedded silicone resins, calcium borate was essential in providing the liquid phase upon firing and favouring the formation of an unprecedented hardystonite solid solution, corresponding to the formula (Ca0.70Sr0.30)2(Zn0.72Mg0.15Si0.13) (Si0.85B0.15)2O7. Silicone-filler mixtures could be used in the form of thick pastes for direct ink writing of reticulated scaffolds or for direct foaming. The latter shaping option benefited from the use of hydrated calcium borate, which underwent dehydration, with water vapour release, at a low temperature (420 °C). Both scaffolds and foams confirmed the already-obtained phase assemblage, after firing, and exhibited remarkable strength-to-density ratios. Finally, preliminary cell tests excluded any cytotoxicity that could be derived from the formation of a boro-silicate glassy phase.

A novel, doped calcium silicate bioceramic synthesized by sol-gel method: Investigation of setting time and biological properties

The aim of the current study was to synthesize a fast-setting ion-doped calcium silicate bioceramic by the sol-gel method and to characterize its in vitro apatite-forming ability and cell viability. Calcium silicate (CS), doped calcium silicate with zinc and magnesium, with Ca/Zn molar ratios of 6.7:1 (DCS1), and 4.5:1 (DCS2), were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Matreva white MTA (WMTA, Matreva, CA, Egypt) was used as a control. The synthesized powders were characterized by x-ray diffraction. Setting time was measured using the Gilmore needle indentation technique. The in vitro apatite-forming ability of the materials was evaluated by scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray. NIH3T3-E1 cells viability was tested using MTT assay. The ion release of Ca, Si, Zn, and Mg was measured using inductive coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). One-way ANOVA was used to analyze setting time results. The Tukey's HSD post hoc test was used to establish significance (p < 0.001). For nonparametric data, the Kruskal-Wallis H test with Dunn's correction for post hoc comparison was used (p < 0.05). CS, DCS1, and DCS2 showed a significant decrease in setting time 33 ± 1.63 min, 28 ± 1.63 min, and 41.75 ± 2.87 min, respectively, compared to WMTA 91 ± 3.16 min (p < 0.001). DCS1 showed the highest apatite-forming ability and cell viability compared to the other groups. Ca and Si ions release decreased in both DCS1 and DCS2. The physical and biological properties of CS can be successfully improved by the sol-gel synthesis and ions doping. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 108B:56-66, 2020.

The osteoimmunomodulatory property of a barrier collagen membrane and its manipulation via coating nanometer-sized bioactive glass to improve guided bone regeneration

Barrier membranes with nano-sized bioceramic coating can modulate the osteoimmune responses to stimulate osteogenesis.

Effects of nanosilver and nanozinc incorporated mesoporous calcium-silicate nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of dentin

Mesoporous calcium-silicate nanoparticles (MCSNs) are advanced biomaterials for drug delivery and mineralization induction. They can load silver and exhibit significantly antibacterial effects. However, the effects of MCSNs and silver-loaded MCSNs on dentin are unknown. The silver (Ag) and/or zinc (Zn) incorporated MCSNs (Ag-Zn-MCSNs) were prepared by a template method, and their characterizations were tested. Then the nanoparticles were filled into root canals and their effects on the dentin were investigated. Ag-Zn-MCSNs showed characteristics of mesoporous materials and sustained release of ions over time. Ag-Zn-MCSNs adhered well to the root canal walls and infiltrated into the dentinal tubules after ultrasound activation. Ag-Zn-MCSNs showed no significantly negative effects on either the flexural strength or the modulus of elasticity of dentin, while CH decreased the flexural strength of dentin significantly (P<0.05). These findings suggested that Ag and Zn can be incorporated into MCSNs using a template method, and the Ag-Zn-MCSNs may be developed into a new disinfectant for the root canal and dentinal tubules.

Hardystonite-Coated Poly(l-lactide) Nanofibrous Scaffold and Efficient Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

In this study, a ceramic-coated nanofibrous scaffold has been fabricated to biomimic the microstructure of natural extracellular matrix and the stiffening inorganic compartment of bone. Poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) nanofibers were electrospun and exposed to oxygen plasma to induce hydrophilicity and promote ceramic adsorption. Hardystonite (HS), which possesses superior osteoinduction potential over hydroxyapatite, was coated on plasma-treated PLLA nanofibers by drenching the nanofibers in HS suspension. Pure and composite PLLA-based scaffolds were characterized in terms of physical and biological properties. In vitro cultivation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) on the scaffolds displayed that the composite scaffold is able to further support cell attachment and proliferation. In case of osteogenic differentiation of AMSCs, HS coating significantly increased the synthesis and activity of alkaline phosphate over 21 days period. In addition, the composite scaffold showed improved mineralization. The expression level of osteonectin and osteocalcin genes was significantly enhanced by HS coating of nanofibers. The biological improvement of PLLA nanofibrous matrix in the presence of HS nanoparticles could either be attributed to the release and stimulatory effect of constituent ions of HS or to the modification of chemico-physical properties of the resultant ceramic by silicon and zinc present in HS.

Doped Calcium Silicate Ceramics: A New Class of Candidates for Synthetic Bone Substitutes

Doped calcium silicate ceramics (DCSCs) have recently gained immense interest as a new class of candidates for the treatment of bone defects. Although calcium phosphates and bioactive glasses have remained the mainstream of ceramic bone substitutes, their clinical use is limited by suboptimal mechanical properties. DCSCs are a class of calcium silicate ceramics which are developed through the ionic substitution of calcium ions, the incorporation of metal oxides into the base binary xCaO-ySiO₂ system, or a combination of both. Due to their unique compositions and ability to release bioactive ions, DCSCs exhibit enhanced mechanical and biological properties. Such characteristics offer significant advantages over existing ceramic bone substitutes, and underline the future potential of adopting DCSCs for clinical use in bone reconstruction to produce improved outcomes. This review will discuss the effects of different dopant elements and oxides on the characteristics of DCSCs for applications in bone repair, including mechanical properties, degradation and ion release characteristics, radiopacity, and biological activity (in vitro and in vivo). Recent advances in the development of DCSCs for broader clinical applications will also be discussed, including DCSC composites, coated DCSC scaffolds and DCSC-coated metal implants.

Silicate-based bioceramics regulating osteoblast differentiation through a BMP2 signalling pathway

Si-containing bioactive ionic products released from silicate-based bioceramics activate Smad1/5-mediated BMP2 signaling pathways.

Comparative bone regeneration study of hardystonite and hydroxyapatite as filler in critical-sized defect of rat calvaria

Bone grafts made from nanofibrous polycaprolactone loaded with bone-mimicking ceramic hydroxyapatite or hardystonite showed efficient bone healing in an in vivo rat skull defect model.

Ion-Doped Silicate Bioceramic Coating of Ti-Based Implant

Titanium and its alloy are known as important load-bearing biomaterials. The major drawbacks of these metals are fibrous formation and low corrosion rate after implantation. The surface modification of biomedical implants through various methods such as plasma spray improves their osseointegration and clinical lifetime. Different materials have been already used as coatings on biomedical implant, including calcium phosphates and bioglass. However, these materials have been reported to have limited clinical success. The excellent bioactivity of calcium silicate (Ca-Si) has been also regarded as coating material. However, their high degradation rate and low mechanical strength limit their further coating application. Trace element modification of (Ca-Si) bioceramics is a promising method, which improves their mechanical strength and chemical stability. In this review, the potential of trace element-modified silicate coatings on better bone formation of titanium implant is investigated.

Improvement in degradability of 58s glass scaffolds by ZnO and β-TCP modification

58s bioactive glass shows great potential for bone defects repair. However, at early repairing stage, the degradation rate of 58s glass is too fast due to the fast ion-exchange. At later repairing stage, the degradation rate of 58s glass is too slow due to the high dense mineral layer. In this work, Zinc oxide (ZnO) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) were introduced into 58s glass bone scaffolds to improve the degradability. The results showed that ZnO could decrease the degradation rate and promote the stability of 58s glass at early repairing stage. Moreover, the presence of β-TCP appeared to increase the degradation rate at a later stage of repairing. Furthermore, in vitro biocompatibility study, carried out using human osteoblast-like cells (MG63), demonstrated that ZnO and β-TCP enhanced cell attachment and proliferation. The study provided a reference for further research in bone tissue engineering.

Mechanically Stiff, Zinc Cross-Linked Nanocomposite Scaffolds with Improved Osteostimulation and Antibacterial Properties

Nanocomposite scaffolds are studied widely due to their resemblance with the natural extracellular matrix of bone; but their use as a bone tissue engineered scaffold is clinically hampered due to low mechanical stiffness, inadequate osteoconduction, and graft associated infections. The purpose of the current study was the development of a mechanically stiff nanocomposite scaffold using biodegradable gellan and xanthan polymers reinforced with bioglass nanoparticles (nB) (Size: 20-120 nm). These nanocomposite scaffolds were cross-linked with zinc sulfate ions to improve their osteoconduction and antibacterial properties for the regeneration of a functional bone. The compressive strength and modulus of the optimized nanocomposite scaffold (1% w/v polymer reinforced with 4%w/v nB nanoparticles, cross-linked with 1.5 mM zinc sulfate) was 1.91 ± 0.31 MPa and 20.36 ± 1.08 MPa, respectively, which was comparable to the trabecular bone and very high compared to nanocomposite scaffolds reported in earlier studies. Further, in vitro simulated body fluid (SBF) study suggested deposition of biomimetic apatite on the surface of zinc cross-linked nanocomposite scaffolds confirming their bioactivity. MG 63 osteoblast-like cells cultured with the nanocomposite scaffolds responded to matrix stiffness with better adhesion, spreading and cellular interconnections compared to the polymeric gellan and xanthan scaffolds. Incorporation of bioglass nanoparticles and zinc cross-linker in nanocomposite scaffolds demonstrated 62% increment in expression of alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and 150% increment in calcium deposition of MG 63 osteoblast-like cells compared to just gellan and xanthan polymeric scaffolds. Furthermore, zinc cross-linked nanocomposite scaffolds significantly inhibited the growth of Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis (70% reduction) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (81% reduction) bacteria. This study demonstrated a facile approach to tune the mechanical stiffness, bioactivity, osteoconduction potential and bacteriostatic properties of scaffolds, which marked it as a potential bone tissue engineered scaffold.

Optimizing stem cell functions and antibacterial properties of TiO2 nanotubes incorporated with ZnO nanoparticles: experiments and modeling

To optimize mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and antibacterial properties of titanium (Ti), nano-sized zinc oxide (ZnO) particles with tunable concentrations were incorporated into TiO₂ nanotubes (TNTs) using a facile hydrothermal strategy. It is revealed here for the first time that the TNTs incorporated with ZnO nanoparticles exhibited better biocompatibility compared with pure Ti samples (controls) and that the amount of ZnO (tailored by the concentration of Zn(NO₃)₂ in the precursor) introduced into TNTs played a crucial role on their osteogenic properties. Not only was the alkaline phosphatase activity improved to about 13.8 U/g protein, but the osterix, collagen-I, and osteocalcin gene expressions was improved from mesenchymal stem cells compared to controls. To further explore the mechanism of TNTs decorated with ZnO on cell functions, a response surface mathematical model was used to optimize the concentration of ZnO incorporation into the Ti nanotubes for stem cell differentiation and antibacterial properties for the first time. Both experimental and modeling results confirmed (R² values of 0.8873–0.9138 and 0.9596–0.9941, respectively) that Ti incorporated with appropriate concentrations (with an initial concentration of Zn(NO₃)₂ at 0.015 M) of ZnO can provide exceptional osteogenic properties for stem cell differentiation in bone cells with strong antibacterial effects, properties important for improving dental and orthopedic implant efficacy.

Osteogenic activity and antibacterial effect of zinc ion implanted titanium

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are widely used as orthopedic and dental implants. In this work, zinc (Zn) was implanted into oxalic acid etched titanium using plasma immersion ion implantation technology. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to investigate the surface morphology and composition of Zn-implanted titanium. The results indicate that the depth profile of zinc in Zn-implanted titanium resembles a Gaussian distribution, and zinc exists in the form of ZnO at the surface whereas in the form of metallic Zn in the interior. The Zn-implanted titanium can significantly stimulate proliferation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells as well as initial adhesion, spreading activity, ALP activity, collagen secretion and extracellular matrix mineralization of the rat mesenchymal stem cells. The Zn-implanted titanium presents partly antibacterial effect on both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The ability of the Zn-implanted titanium to stimulate cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation as well as the antibacterial effect on E. coli can be improved by increasing implantation time even to 2 h in this work, indicating that the content of zinc implanted in titanium can easily be controlled within the safe concentration using plasma immersion ion implantation technology. The Zn-implanted titanium with excellent osteogenic activity and partly antibacterial effect can serve as useful candidates for orthopedic and dental implants.

A stimulatory effect of Ca3ZrSi2O9 bioceramics on cementogenic/osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells

Ca₃ZrSi₂O₉ bioceramics promote the cementogenic/osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs.

Biomaterial scaffolds in cartilage–subchondral bone defects influencing the repair of autologous articular cartilage transplants

The repair of articular cartilage typically involves the repair of cartilage–subchondral bone tissue defects. Although various bioactive materials have been used to repair bone defects, how these bioactive materials in subchondral bone defects influence the repair of autologous cartilage transplant remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different subchondral biomaterial scaffolds on the repair of autologous cartilage transplant in a sheep model. Cylindrical cartilage–subchondral bone defects were created in the right femoral knee joint of each sheep. The subchondral bone defects were implanted with hydroxyapatite–β-tricalcium phosphate (HA–TCP), poly lactic-glycolic acid (PLGA)-HA–TCP dual-layered composite scaffolds (PLGA/HA–TCP scaffolds), or autologous bone chips. The autologous cartilage layer was placed on top of the subchondral materials. After 3 months, the effect of different subchondral scaffolds on the repair of autologous cartilage transplant was systematically studied by investigating the mechanical strength, structural integration, and histological responses. The results showed that the transplanted cartilage layer supported by HA–TCP scaffolds had better structural integration and higher mechanical strength than that supported by PLGA/HA–TCP scaffolds. Furthermore, HA–TCP-supported cartilage showed higher expression of acid mucosubstances and glycol-amino-glycan contents than that supported by PLGA/HA–TCP scaffolds. Our results suggested that the physicochemical properties, including the inherent mechanical strength and material chemistry of the scaffolds, play important roles in influencing the repair of autologous cartilage transplants. The study may provide useful information for the design and selection of proper subchondral biomaterials to support the repair of both subchondral bone and cartilage defects.

Antibacterial activity and increased bone marrow stem cell functions of Zn-incorporated TiO2 coatings on titanium

In this work, zinc was incorporated into TiO2 coatings on titanium by plasma electrolytic oxidation to obtain the implant with good bacterial inhibition ability and bone-formability. The porous and nanostructured Zn-incorporated TiO2 coatings are built up from pores smaller than 5 μm and grains 20-100 nm in size, in which the element Zn exists as ZnO. The results obtained from the antibacterial studies suggest that the Zn-incorporated TiO2 coatings can greatly inhibit the growth of both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and the ability to inhibit bacteria can be improved by increasing the Zn content in the coatings. Moreover, the in vitro cytocompatibility evaluation demonstrates that the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of rat bone marrow stem cells (bMSC) on Zn-incorporated coatings are significantly enhanced compared with Zn-free coating and commercially pure Ti plate, and no cytotoxicity appeared on any of the Zn-incorporated TiO2 coatings. Moreover, bMSC express higher level of alkaline phosphatase activity on Zn-incorporated TiO2 coatings and are induced to differentiate into osteoblast cells. The better antibacterial activity, cytocompatibility and the capability to promote bMSC osteogenic differentiation of Zn-incorporated TiO2 coatings may be attributed to the fact that Zn ions can be slowly and constantly released from the coatings. In conclusion, innovative Zn-incorporated TiO2 coatings on titanium with excellent antibacterial activity and biocompatibility are promising candidates for orthopedic and dental implants.

Chemical stability and antimicrobial activity of plasma sprayed bioactive Ca2ZnSi2O7 coating

Calcium silicate ceramic coatings have received considerable attention in recent years due to their excellent bioactivity and bonding strength. However, their high dissolution rates limit their practical applications. In this study, zinc incorporated calcium silicate based ceramic Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7) coating was prepared on Ti-6Al-4V substrate via plasma spraying technology aiming to achieve higher chemical stability and additional antibacterial activity. Chemical stability of the coating was assessed by monitoring mass loss and ion release of the coating after immersion in the Tris-HCl buffer solution and examining pH value variation of the solution. Results showed that the chemical stability of zinc incorporated coating was improved significantly. Antimicrobial activity of the Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7) coating was evaluated, and it was found that the coating exhibited 93% antibacterial ratio against Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, in vitro bioactivity and cytocompatibility were confirmed for the Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7) coating by simulated body fluid test, MC3T3-E1 cells adhesion investigation and cytotoxicity assay.

Functional Coatings or Films for Hard-Tissue Applications

Metallic biomaterials like stainless steel, Co-based alloy, Ti and its alloys are widely used as artificial hip joints, bone plates and dental implants due to their excellent mechanical properties and endurance. However, there are some surface-originated problems associated with the metallic implants: corrosion and wear in biological environments resulting in ions release and formation of wear debris; poor implant fixation resulting from lack of osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity; implant-associated infections due to the bacterial adhesion and colonization at the implantation site. For overcoming these surface-originated problems, a variety of surface modification techniques have been used on metallic implants, including chemical treatments, physical methods and biological methods. This review surveys coatings that serve to provide properties of anti-corrosion and anti-wear, biocompatibility and bioactivity, and antibacterial activity.

Porous diopside (CaMgSi(2)O(6)) scaffold: A promising bioactive material for bone tissue engineering

Diopside (CaMgSi(2)O(6)) powders and dense ceramics have been shown to be bioactive biomaterials for bone repair. The aim of this study is to prepare bioactive diopside scaffolds and examine their physicochemical and biological properties. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-computerized tomography and energy-dispersive spectrometry were used to analyse the composition, microstructure, pore size and interconnectivity of the diopside scaffolds. The mechanical strength and stability as well as the degradation of the scaffolds were investigated by testing the compressive strength, modulus and silicon ions released, respectively. Results showed that highly porous diopside scaffolds with varying porosity and high interconnectivity of 97% were successfully prepared with improved compressive strength and mechanical stability, compared to the bioglass and CaSiO(3) scaffolds. The bioactivity of the diopside scaffolds was assessed using apatite-forming ability in simulated body fluids (SBF) and by their support for human osteoblastic-like cell (HOB) attachment, proliferation and differentiation using SEM, and MTS and alkaline phosphatase activity assays, respectively. Results showed that diopside scaffolds possessed apatite-forming ability in SBF and supported HOB attachment proliferation and differentiation. Bioactive diopside scaffolds were prepared with excellent pore/structure art, and improved mechanical strength and mechanical stability, suggesting their possible applications for bone tissue engineering regeneration.

The incorporation of strontium and zinc into a calcium-silicon ceramic for bone tissue engineering

In this study we developed novel scaffolds through the controlled substitution and incorporation of strontium and zinc into a calcium-silicon system to form Sr-Hardystonite (Sr-Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7), Sr-HT). The physical and biological properties of Sr-HT were compared to Hardystonite (Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7)) [HT]. We showed that Sr-HT scaffolds are porous with interconnected porous network (interconnectivity: 99%) and large pore size (300-500 microm) and an overall porosity of 78%, combined with a relatively high compressive strength (2.16+/-0.52 MPa). These properties are essential for enhancing bone ingrowth in load-bearing applications. Sr-HT ceramic scaffolds induced the attachment and differentiation of human bone derived cells (HOB), compared to that for the HT scaffolds. Sr-HT scaffolds enhanced expression of alkaline phosphatase, Runx-2, osteopontin, osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein. The in vivo osteoconductivity of the scaffolds was assessed at 3 and 6 weeks following implantation in tibial bone defects in rats. Histological staining revealed rapid new growth of bone into the pores of the 3D scaffolds with the Sr-HT and HT, relative to the beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP). In vivo, HT and Sr-HT produced distinct differences in the patterns of degradation of the materials, and their association with TRAP positive osteoclast-like cells with HT appearing more resistant compared to both Sr-HT and beta-TCP.

In vitro proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells cultured with hardystonite (Ca2ZnSi 2O7) and {beta}-TCP ceramics

The effects of hardystonite (Ca(2)ZnSi(2)O(7), CSZn) and tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were compared by directly culturing MSCs on ceramic disks (contact mode) or separately culturing cells with ceramic disks (non-contact mode). In non-contact mode, the CSZn ceramic supported MSC proliferation more strongly than did the beta-TCP ceramic. However, in contact mode, the MSCs proliferated more quickly on the beta-TCP ceramic than they did on the CSZn ceramic. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and osteogenic gene expression analysis showed that the CSZn and beta-TCP ceramics had significant effects on the promotion of the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in both non-contact and contact mode. Furthermore, in contact mode, the CSZn disk promoted the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs more strongly than did the beta-TCP disks. Even without the induction of dexamethasone and beta-glycerophosphate, CSZn stimulated the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. These results suggest that CSZn ceramic would be a useful candidate material for bone regeneration and hard tissue engineering.

Plasma-sprayed CaTiSiO5 ceramic coating on Ti-6Al-4V with excellent bonding strength, stability and cellular bioactivity

Novel Ca-Si-Ti-based sphene (CaTiSiO5) ceramics possess excellent chemical stability and cytocompatibility. The aim of this study was to prepare sphene coating on titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) for orthopaedic applications using the plasma spray method. The phase composition, surface and interface microstructure, coating thickness, surface roughness and bonding strength of the plasma-sprayed sphene coating were analysed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and the standard mechanical testing of the American Society for Testing and Materials, respectively. The results indicated that sphene coating was obtained with a uniform and dense microstructure at the interface of the Ti-6Al-4V surface and the thickness and surface roughness of the coating were approximately 150 and 10 microm, respectively. Plasma-sprayed sphene coating on Ti-6Al-4V possessed a significantly improved bonding strength and chemical stability compared with plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating. Plasma-sprayed sphene coating supported human osteoblast-like cell (HOB) attachment and significantly enhanced HOB proliferation and differentiation compared with plasma-sprayed HAp coating and uncoated Ti-6Al-4V. Taken together, plasma-sprayed sphene coating on Ti-6Al-4V possessed excellent bonding strength, chemical stability and cellular bioactivity, indicating its potential application for orthopaedic implants.

The effect of mesoporous bioactive glass on the physiochemical, biological and drug-release properties of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) films

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) has been widely used for bone tissue regeneration. However, it lacks hydrophilicity, bioactivity and sufficient mechanical strength and its acidic degradation by-products can lead to pH decrease in the vicinity of the implants. Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) with highly ordered structure (pore size 2-50nm) possesses higher bioactivity than non-mesoporous bioactive glass (BG). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of MBG on the mechanical strength, in vitro degradation, bioactivity, cellular response and drug release of PLGA films and optimize their physicochemical, biological and drug-delivery properties for bone tissue engineering application. The surface and inner microstructure, mechanical strength and surface hydrophilicity of MBG/PLGA and BG/PLGA films were tested. Results indicated that MBG or BG was uniformly dispersed in the PLGA films. The incorporation of MBG into PLGA films significantly improved their tensile strength, modulus and surface hydrophilicity. MBG/PLGA resulted in an enhanced mechanical strength, in vitro degradation (water absorbance, weight loss and ions release), apatite-formation ability and pH stability in simulated body fluids (SBF), compared to BG/PLGA. MBG/PLGA and BG/PLGA films enhanced human osteoblastic-like cells (HOBs) attachment, spreading and proliferation compared to PLGA. HOBs differentiation was significantly upregulated when cells were cultured on 30 MBG/PLGA for 14 days, compared to 30 BG/PLGA. MBG/PLGA enhanced the accumulative release of dexamethazone (DEX) at early stages (0-200h) compared to BG/PLGA, however, after 200h, DEX-release rates for MBG/PLGA was slower than that of BG/PLGA. The contents of MBG in PLGA films can control the amount of DEX released. Taken together, MBG/PLGA films possessed excellent physicochemical, biological and drug-release properties, indicating their potential application for bone tissue engineering by designing 3D scaffolds according to their corresponding compositions.