Surface energy of hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate ceramics driving serum protein adsorption and osteoblast adhesion

Beyond microroughness: novel approaches to navigate osteoblast activity on implant surfaces

Considering the biological activity of osteoblasts is crucial when devising new approaches to enhance the osseointegration of implant surfaces, as their behavior profoundly influences clinical outcomes. An established inverse correlation exists between osteoblast proliferation and their functional differentiation, which constrains the rapid generation of a significant amount of bone. Examining the surface morphology of implants reveals that roughened titanium surfaces facilitate rapid but thin bone formation, whereas smooth, machined surfaces promote greater volumes of bone formation albeit at a slower pace. Consequently, osteoblasts differentiate faster on roughened surfaces but at the expense of proliferation speed. Moreover, the attachment and initial spreading behavior of osteoblasts are notably compromised on microrough surfaces. This review delves into our current understanding and recent advances in nanonodular texturing, meso-scale texturing, and UV photofunctionalization as potential strategies to address the "biological dilemma" of osteoblast kinetics, aiming to improve the quality and quantity of osseointegration. We discuss how these topographical and physicochemical strategies effectively mitigate and even overcome the dichotomy of osteoblast behavior and the biological challenges posed by microrough surfaces. Indeed, surfaces modified with these strategies exhibit enhanced recruitment, attachment, spread, and proliferation of osteoblasts compared to smooth surfaces, while maintaining or amplifying the inherent advantage of cell differentiation. These technology platforms suggest promising avenues for the development of future implants.

Effect of Physicochemical Surface Properties of Silicon-Substituted Hydroxyapatite on Angiogenesis

Synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) is a widely studied bioceramic for bone tissue engineering (BTE) due to its similarity to the mineral component of bone. As bone mineral contains various ionic substitutions that play a crucial role in bone metabolism, the bioactivity of HA can be improved by adding small amounts of physiologically relevant ions into its crystal structure, with silicate-substituted HA (Si-HA) showing particularly promising results. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how distinct material characteristics influence the bioactivity due to the intertwined nature of surface properties. A coculture methodology was optimized and applied for in vitro quantification of the biological response. Initially, HA and Si-HA samples were produced and characterized. To compare the bioactivity of the samples, a method was developed to measure interactions in an increasingly complex environment, first including fibronectin (FN) adsorption and subsequently cell adhesion in mono and coculture using primary human osteoblasts (hOBs) and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs), with and without FN precoating. An experimental set-up was designed to assess to what extent different surface features of the samples contribute to the induced biological response. An 8-nm gold sputter coating was applied to eradicate the electrochemical differences and polishing and abrading was used to reduce the differences in surface topographies. Overall, 1.25 wt% Si-HA exhibited most nanoscale variations in surface potential. In terms of bioactivity, 1.25 wt% Si-HA samples induced the highest osteoblast attachment and vessel formation. Additionally, in vitro vessel formation was established on Si-HA surfaces using a hOB:HDMEC cell ratio of 70:30 and a methodology was established that enabled the assessment of the relative effect of topographical and electrochemical features induced by silicon substitution in the HA lattice on their bioactivity. It was found that the difference in the amount of protein attached to HA and 1.25 wt% Si-HA after 2 h was affected by topographical differences. Conversely, electrochemical differences induced different vessel-like structure formation in coculture with a FN precoating. Without an FN precoating, both topographical and electrochemical differences dictated the differences in angiogenic response. Overall, 1.25 wt% Si-HA surface features appear to induce the most favorable protein adsorption and cell adhesion in mono and coculture with and without FN precoating.

Optimizing implant osseointegration, soft tissue responses, and bacterial inhibition: A comprehensive narrative review on the multifaceted approach of the UV photofunctionalization of titanium

Titanium implants have revolutionized restorative and reconstructive therapy, yet achieving optimal osseointegration and ensuring long-term implant success remain persistent challenges. In this review, we explore a cutting-edge approach to enhancing implant properties: ultraviolet (UV) photofunctionalization. By harnessing UV energy, photofunctionalization rejuvenates aging implants, leveraging and often surpassing the intrinsic potential of titanium materials. The primary aim of this narrative review is to offer an updated perspective on the advancements made in the field, providing a comprehensive overview of recent findings and exploring the relationship between UV-induced physicochemical alterations and cellular responses. There is now compelling evidence of significant transformations in titanium surface chemistry induced by photofunctionalization, transitioning from hydrocarbon-rich to carbon pellicle-free surfaces, generating superhydrophilic surfaces, and modulating the electrostatic properties. These changes are closely associated with improved cellular attachment, spreading, proliferation, differentiation, and, ultimately, osseointegration. Additionally, we discuss clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of UV photofunctionalization in accelerating and enhancing the osseointegration of dental implants. Furthermore, we delve into recent advancements, including the development of one-minute vacuum UV (VUV) photofunctionalization, which addresses the limitations of conventional UV methods as well as the newly discovered functions of photofunctionalization in modulating soft tissue and bacterial interfaces. By elucidating the intricate relationship between surface science and biology, this body of research lays the groundwork for innovative strategies aimed at enhancing the clinical performance of titanium implants, marking a new era in implantology.

The interplay between crystallinity and the levels of Zn and carbonate in synthetic microcalcifications directs thyroid cell malignancy

One of the key challenges in diagnosing thyroid cancer lies in the substantial percentage of indeterminate diagnoses of thyroid nodules that have undergone ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy for cytological evaluation. This delays the definitive diagnosis and treatment plans. We recently demonstrated that hydroxyapatite microcalcifications (MCs) aspirated from thyroid nodules may aid nodule diagnosis based on their composition. In particular, Zn-enriched MCs have emerged as potential cancer biomarkers. However, a pertinent question remains: is the elevated Zn content within MCs a consequence of cancer, or do the Zn-enriched MCs encourage tumorigenesis? To address this, we treated the human thyroid cancer cell line MDA-T32 with synthetic MC analogs comprising hydroxyapatite crystals with varied pathologically relevant Zn fractions and assessed the cellular response. The MC analogs exhibited an irregular surface morphology similar to FNA MCs observed in cancerous thyroid nodules. These MC analogs displayed an inverse relationship between Zn fraction and crystallinity, as shown by X-ray diffractometry. The zeta potential of the non-Zn-bearing hydroxyapatite crystals was negative, which decreased once Zn was incorporated into the crystal. The MC analogs were not cytotoxic. The cellular response to exposure to these crystals was evaluated in terms of cell migration, proliferation, the tendency of the cells to form multicellular spheroids, and the expression of cancer markers. Our findings suggest that, if thyroid MCs play a role in promoting cancerous behavior in vivo, it is likely a result of the interplay of crystallinity with Zn and carbonate fractions in MCs.

Polymeric Nanocomposite Hydrogel Scaffolds in Craniofacial Bone Regeneration: A Comprehensive Review

Nanocomposite biomaterials combine a biopolymeric matrix structure with nanoscale fillers. These bioactive and easily resorbable nanocomposites have been broadly divided into three groups, namely natural, synthetic or composite, based on the polymeric origin. Preparing such nanocomposite structures in the form of hydrogels can create a three-dimensional natural hydrophilic atmosphere pivotal for cell survival and new tissue formation. Thus, hydrogel-based cell distribution and drug administration have evolved as possible options for bone tissue engineering and regeneration. In this context, nanogels or nanohydrogels, created by cross-linking three-dimensional polymer networks, either physically or chemically, with high biocompatibility and mechanical properties were introduced as promising drug delivery systems. The present review highlights the potential of hydrogels and nanopolymers in the field of craniofacial tissue engineering and bone regeneration.

Effects of Soil Surface Chemistry on Adsorption and Activity of Urease from a Crude Protein Extract: Implications for Biocementation Applications

In the bacterial enzyme-induced calcite precipitation (BEICP) technique for biocementation, the spatial distribution of adsorbed and catalytically active urease dictates the location where calcium carbonate precipitation and resulting cementation will occur. This study investigated the relationships between the amount of urease and total bacterial proteins adsorbed, the retained enzymatic activity of adsorbed urease, and the overall loss of activity upon adsorption, and how these relationships are influenced by changes in soil surface chemistry. In soils with hydrophobic contents higher than 20% (w/w) ratio, urease was preferentially adsorbed compared to the total amount of proteins present in the crude bacterial protein extract. Conversely, adsorption of urease onto silica sand and soil mixtures, including iron-coated sand, was much lower compared to the total proteins. Higher levels of urease activity were retained in hydrophobic-containing samples, with urease activity decreasing with lower hydrophobic content. These observations suggest that the surface manipulation of soils, such as treatments to add hydrophobicity to soil surfaces, can potentially be used to increase the activity of adsorbed urease to improve biocementation outcomes.

The Effect of Ultraviolet Treatment on TiO2 Nanotubes: A Study of Surface Characteristics, Bacterial Adhesion, and Gingival Fibroblast Response

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes are emerging as a provocative target for oral implant research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of UV on the wettability behavior, bacterial colonization, and fibroblast proliferation rate of TiO2 nanotube surfaces prepared using different anodization voltages and aimed for use as implant abutment materials. Four different experimental materials were prepared: (1) TiO2 nanotube 10 V; (2) TiO2 nanotube 15 V; (3) TiO2 nanotube 20 V; and (4) commercial pure titanium as a control group. TiO2 nanotube arrays were prepared in an aqueous electrolyte solution of hydrofluoric acid (HF, 0.5 vol.%). Different anodization voltages were used to modify the morphology of the TiO2 nanotubes. Equilibrium contact angles were measured using the sessile drop method with a contact angle meter. The investigated surfaces (n = 3) were incubated at 37 °C in a suspension of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) for 30 min for bacterial adhesion and 3 days for biofilm formation. Human gingival fibroblasts were plated and cultured on the experimental substrates for up to 7 days and the cell proliferation rate was assessed using the AlamarBlue assayTM (BioSource International, Camarillo, CA, USA). The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. Water contact angle measurements on the TiO2 after UV treatment showed an overall hydrophilic behavior regardless of the anodization voltage. The ranking of the UV-treated surfaces of experimental groups from lowest to highest for bacterial adhesion was: TiO2 nanotube 20 V < Ti and TiO2 nanotube 15 V < TiO2 nanotube 10 V (p < 0.05), and for bacterial biofilm formation was: TiO2 nanotube 20 V-TiO2 nanotube 10 V < Ti-TiO2 nanotube 15 V (p < 0.05). Fibroblast cell proliferation was lower on TiO2 nanotube surfaces throughout the incubation period and UV light treatment showed no enhancement in cellular response. UV treatment enhances the wettability behavior of TiO2 nanotube surfaces and could result in lower bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation.

Inductive Materials for Regenerative Engineering

Regenerative engineering has pioneered several novel biomaterials to treat critical-sized bone injuries. However, despite significant improvement in synthetic materials research, some limitations still exist. The constraints correlated with the current grafting methods signify a treatment paradigm shift to osteoinductive regenerative engineering approaches. Because of their intrinsic potential, inductive biomaterials may represent alternative approaches to treating critical bone injuries. Osteoinductive scaffolds stimulate stem cell differentiation into the osteoblastic lineage, enhancing bone regeneration. Inductive biomaterials comprise polymers, calcium phosphate ceramics, metals, and graphene family materials. This review will assess the cellular behavior toward properties of inductive materials.

Whitlockite-Enabled Hydrogel for Craniofacial Bone Regeneration

Growth-factor-free bone regeneration remains a challenge in craniofacial engineering. Here, we engineered an osteogenic niche composed of a commercially modified alginate hydrogel and whitlockite microparticles (WHMPs), which impart tunable physicochemical properties that can direct osteogenesis of human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs). Our in vitro studies demonstrate that WHMPs induce osteogenesis of GMSCs more effectively than previously demonstrated hydroxyapatite microparticles (HApMPs). Alginate-WHMP hydrogels showed higher elasticity without any adverse effects on the viability of the encapsulated GMSCs. Moreover, the alginate-WHMP hydrogels upregulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which in turn orchestrates several osteogenic markers, such as RUNX2 and OCN, in the encapsulated GMSCs. Concurrent coculture studies with human osteoclasts demonstrate that GMSCs encapsulated in alginate-WHMP hydrogels downregulate osteoclastic activity, potentially due to release of Mg2+ ions from the WHMPs along with secretion of osteoprotegerin from the GMSCs. In vivo studies demonstrated that the GMSCs encapsulated in our osteogenic niche were able to promote bone repair in calvarial defects in murine models. Altogether, our results confirmed the development of a promising treatment modality for craniofacial bone regeneration based on an injectable growth-factor-free hydrogel delivery system.

Orchestrating soft tissue integration at the transmucosal region of titanium implants

Osseointegration at the bone-implant interface and soft tissue integration (STI) at the trans-mucosal region are crucial for the long-term success of dental implants, especially in compromised patient conditions. The STI quality of conventional smooth and bio-inert titanium-based implants is inferior to that of natural tissue (i.e. teeth), and hence various surface modifications have been suggested. This review article compares and contrasts the various modification strategies (physical, chemical and biological) utilized to enhance STI of Ti implants. It also details the STI challenges associated with conventional Ti-based implants, current surface modification strategies and cutting-edge nano-engineering solutions. The topographical, biological and therapeutic advances achievable via electrochemically anodized Ti implants with TiO₂ nanotubes/nanopores are highlighted. Finally, the status and future directions of such nano-engineered implants is discussed, with emphasis on bridging the gap between research and clinical translation.

Enhancing osteoregenerative potential of biphasic calcium phosphates by using bioinspired ZIF8 coating

Biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics (BCPs) have been extensively used as a bone graft in dental clinics to reconstruct lost bone in the jaw and peri-implant hard tissue due to their good bone conduction and similar chemical structure to the teeth and bone. However, BCPs are not inherently osteoinductive and need additional modification and treatment to enhance their osteoinductivity. The present study aims to develop an innovative strategy to improve the osteoinductivity of BCPs using unique features of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF8). In this method, commercial BCPs (Osteon II) were pre-coated with a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8/polydopamine/polyethyleneimine (ZIF8/PDA/PEI) layer to form a uniform and compact thin film of ZIF8 on the surface of BCPs. The surface morphology and chemical structure of ZIF8 modified Osteon II (ZIF8-Osteon) were confirmed using various analytical techniques such as XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX. We evaluated the effect of ZIF8 coating on cell attachment, growth, and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs). The results revealed that altering the surface chemistry and topography of Osteon II using ZIF8 can effectively promote cell attachment, proliferation, and bone regeneration in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. In conclusion, the method applied in this study is simple, low-cost, and time-efficient and can be used as a versatile approach for improving osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity of other types of alloplastic bone grafts.

Osteogenic and antibacterial surfaces on additively manufactured porous Ti-6Al-4V implants: Combining silver nanoparticles with hydrothermally synthesized HA nanocrystals

The recently developed additively manufacturing techniques have enabled the fabrication of porous biomaterials that mimic the characteristics of the native bone, thereby avoiding stress shielding and facilitating bony ingrowth. However, aseptic loosening and bacterial infection, as the leading causes of implant failure, need to be further addressed through surface biofunctionalization. Here, we used a combination of (1) plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) using Ca-, P-, and silver nanoparticle-rich electrolytes and (2) post-PEO hydrothermal treatments (HT) to furnish additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V porous implants with a multi-functional surface. The applied HT led to the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystals throughout the oxide layer. This process was controlled by the supersaturation of Ca²⁺ and PO₄^3- during the hydrothermal process. Initially, the high local supersaturation resulted in homogenous nucleation of spindle-like nanocrystals throughout the surface. As the process continued, the depletion of reactant ions in the outermost surface layer led to a remarkable decrease in the supersaturation degrees. High aspect-ratio nanorods and hexagonal nanopillars were, therefore, created. The unique hierarchical structure of the microporous PEO layer (pore size < 3 μm) and spindle-like HA nanocrystals (<150 nm) on the surface of macro-porous additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V implants provided a favorable substrate for the anchorage of cytoplasmic extensions assisting cell attachment and migration on the surface. The results of our in vitro assays clearly showed the important benefits of the HT and the spindle-like HA nanocrystals including a significantly stronger and much more sustained antibacterial activity, significantly higher levels of pre-osteoblasts metabolic activity, and significantly higher levels of alkaline phosphatase activity as compared to similar PEO-treated implants lacking the HT.

Bioactivity in SBF versus trace element effects: The isolated role of Mg2+ and Zn2+ in osteoblast behavior

The bioactivity assay originally proposed by Kokubo is one of the most commonly used tests to indirectly evaluate the biocompatibility of bioactive glasses. However, extensive evidence has shown that trace elements present in biomaterials may stimulate cellular behavior in different ways even when no apatite formation is observed, i.e., in biomaterials with low or no bioactivity. To further elucidate this topic, we designed three different SiO₂-rich bioglass compositions in which CaO was partially replaced by ZnO and MgO, two oxides known to affect bioactivity as well as osteoblastic behavior. The physicochemical changes induced by the presence of oxides and their effects on biological behavior, as well as the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells (MG-63), were followed by a bioactivity assay in simulated body fluid (SBF). The insertion of ZnO or MgO decreased the glass transition (T_g) and crystallization (T_c) temperatures as a function of the increase in nonbonding oxygens, which was directly reflected in the higher solubility. The release of Mg²⁺ ions from the MgO-containing samples inhibited the bioactivity in SBF, inducing high cell adhesion and proliferation and moderate ALP activity. The release of Zn²⁺ also inhibited the bioactivity in SBF but, in contrast to the release of Mg²⁺, induced low cell adhesion and proliferation and high ALP activity compared to the control.

Platelet adhesion on commercially pure titanium plates in vitro III: effects of calcium phosphate-blasting on titanium plate biocompatibility

BACKGROUND

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is often used to improve surface biocompatibility. We previously found that platelets rapidly adhere to plain commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) plates in the absence, but not in the presence, of plasma proteins. To further expand on these findings, in the present study, we switched titanium plates from a plain surface to a rough surface that is blasted with calcium phosphate (CaP) powder and then examined platelet adhesion and activation.

METHODS

Elemental distribution in CaP-blasted cp-Ti plates was analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. PRP samples prepared from anticoagulated blood samples of six healthy, non-smoking adult male donors were loaded on CaP-blasted cp-Ti plates for 1 h and fixed for examination of platelet morphology and visualization of PDGF-B and platelet surface markers (CD62P, CD63) using scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Plain SUS316L stainless steel plates used in injection needles were also examined for comparison.

RESULTS

Significant amounts of calcium and phosphate were detected on the CaP-blasted cp-Ti surface. Platelets rapidly adhered to this surface, leading to higher activation. Platelets also adhered to the plain stainless surface; however, the levels of adhesion and activation were much lower than those observed on the CaP-blasted cp-Ti plate.

CONCLUSIONS

The CaP-blasted cp-Ti surface efficiently entraps and activates platelets. Biomolecules released from the activated platelets could be retained by the fibrin matrix on the surface to facilitate regeneration of the surrounding tissues. Thus, PRP immersion could not only eliminate surface air bubbles but also improve the biocompatibility of the implant surface.

Design and evaluation of collagen-inspired mineral-hydrogel nanocomposites for bone regeneration

Bone loss due to trauma and tumors remains a serious clinical concern. Due to limited availability and disease transmission risk with autografts and allografts, calcium phosphate bone fillers and growth factor-based substitute bone grafts are currently used in the clinic. However, substitute grafts lack bone regeneration potential when used without growth factors. When used along with the added growth factors, they lead to unwanted side effects such as uncontrolled bone growth. Collagen-based hydrogel grafts available on the market fail to provide structural guidance to native cells due to high water-solubility and faster degradation. To overcome these limitations, we employed bioinspired material design and fabricated three different hydrogels with structural features similar to native collagen at multiple length-scales. These hydrogels fabricated using polyionic complexation of oppositely charged natural polysaccharides exhibited multi-scale architecture mimicking nanoscale banding pattern, and microscale fibrous structure of native collagen. All three hydrogels promoted biomimetic apatite-like mineral deposition in vitro elucidating crystalline structure on the surface while amorphous calcium phosphate inside the hydrogels resulting in mineral-hydrogel nanocomposites. When evaluated in a non-load bearing critical size mouse calvaria defect model, chitosan - kappa carrageenan mineral-hydrogel nanocomposites enhanced bone regeneration without added growth factors compared to empty defect as well as widely used marketed collagen scaffolds. Histological assessment of the regenerated bone revealed improved healing and tissue remodeling with mineral-hydrogel nanocomposites. Overall, these collagen-inspired mineral-hydrogel nanocomposites showed multi-scale hierarchical structure and can potentially serve as promising bioactive hydrogel to promote bone regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Hydrogels, especially collagen, are widely used in bone tissue engineering. Collagen fibrils play arguably the most important role during natural bone development. Its multi-scale hierarchical structure to form fibers from fibrils and electrostatic charges enable mineral sequestration, nucleation, and growth. However, bulk collagen hydrogels exhibit limited bone regeneration and are mostly used as carriers for highly potent growth factors such as bone morphogenic protein-2, which increase the risk of uncontrolled bone growth. Thus, there is an unmet clinical need for a collagen-inspired biomaterial that can recreate structural hierarchy, mineral sequestration ability, and stimulate recruitment of host progenitor cells to facilitate bone regeneration. Here, we propose collagen-inspired bioactive mineral-hydrogel nanocomposites as a growth factor-free approach to guide and enhance bone regeneration.

The role of calcium phosphate surface structure in osteogenesis and the mechanisms involved

Calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics have been widely used for bone regeneration because of their ability to induce osteogenesis. Surface properties, including chemical composition and surface structure, are known to play a crucial role in osteoconduction and osteoinduction. This review systematically analyzes the effects of surface properties, in particular the surface structure, of CaP scaffolds on cell behavior and new bone formation. We also summarize the possible signaling pathways involved in the osteogenic differentiation of bone-related cells when cultured on surfaces with various structures in vitro. The significant immune response initiated by surface structure involved in osteogenic differentiation of cells is also discussed in this review. Taken together, the new biological principle for advanced biomaterials is not only to directly stimulate osteogenic differentiation of bone-related cells but also to modulate the immune response in vivo. Although the reaction mechanism responsible for bone formation induced by CaP surface structure is not clear yet, the insights on surface structure-mediated osteogenic differentiation and osteoimmunomodulation could aid the optimization of CaP-based biomaterials for bone regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: CaP ceramics have similar inorganic composition with natural bone, which have been widely used for bone tissue scaffolds. CaP themselves are not osteoinductive; however, osteoinductive properties could be introduced to CaP materials by surface engineering. This paper systematically summarizes the effects of surface properties, especially surface structure, of CaP scaffolds on bone formation. Additionally, increasing evidence has proved that the bone healing process is not only affected by the osteogenic differentiation of bone-related cells, but also relevant to the the cooperation of immune system. Thus, we further review the possible signaling pathways involved in the osteogenic differentiation and immune response of cells cultured on scaffold surface. These insights into surface structure-mediated osteogenic differentiation and osteoimmunomodulated-based strategy could aid the optimization of CaP-based biomaterials.

Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Applications in Bone Regeneration

Bone injuries and diseases constitute a burden both socially and economically, as the consequences of a lack of effective treatments affect both the patients' quality of life and the costs on the health systems. This impended need has led the research community's efforts to establish efficacious bone tissue engineering solutions. There has been a recent focus on the use of biomaterial-based nanoparticles for the delivery of therapeutic factors. Among the biomaterials being considered to date, calcium phosphates have emerged as one of the most promising materials for bone repair applications due to their osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity and their ability to be resorbed in the body. Calcium phosphate nanoparticles have received particular attention as non-viral vectors for gene therapy, as factors such as plasmid DNAs, microRNAs (miRNA) and silencing RNA (siRNAs) can be easily incorporated on their surface. Calcium phosphate nanoparticles loaded with therapeutic factors have also been delivered to the site of bone injury using scaffolds and hydrogels. This review provides an extensive overview of the current state-of-the-art relating to the design and synthesis of calcium phosphate nanoparticles as carriers for therapeutic factors, the mechanisms of therapeutic factors' loading and release, and their application in bone tissue engineering.

Novel bioresorbable tricalcium phosphate/polyhydroxyoctanoate (TCP/PHO) composites as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

Development of new composite materials for bone tissue engineering is a constantly growing field of medicine. Therefore there is a continuous need in creating novel materials that can not only regenerate the defected tissue but also nourish it while the healing process progresses. Here we present a novel type of composite material that fulfils these requirements. The study describes creation of a composite with macroporous bioceramic core that is infiltrated with a thin biopolymer layer. The ceramic component, namely tricalcium phosphate (TCP), due to its mechanistic and bioactive properties may promote new bone creation as shown through the in vitro studies. To the best of our knowledge the coating layer was created for the first time from a representative of bacterially derived medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers (mcl-PHA), namely polyhydroxyoctanoate (PHO). This polymer layer not only profoundly changed the stress-strain characteristics of the bioceramic foam but also released (R)-3-hydroxyacids and their dimers/trimers to the investigated environment. In the manuscript we have in depth characterised these materials employing a set of basic procedures, through 3D structure reconstruction and finishing with prolonged in vitro experiments.

Current Status on Pulsed Laser Deposition of Coatings from Animal-Origin Calcium Phosphate Sources

The aim of this paper is to present the current status on animal-origin hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings synthesized by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique for medical implant applications. PLD as a thin film synthesis method, although limited in terms of surface covered area, still gathers interest among researchers due to its advantages such as stoichiometric transfer, thickness control, film adherence, and relatively simple experimental set-up. While animal-origin HA synthesized by bacteria or extracted from animal bones, eggshells, and clams was tested in the form of thin films or scaffolds as a bioactive agent before, the reported results on PLD coatings from HA materials extracted from natural sources were not gathered and compared until the present study. Since natural apatite contains trace elements and new functional groups, such as CO32− and HPO42− in its complex molecules, physical-chemical results on the transfer of animal-origin HA by PLD are extremely interesting due to the stoichiometric transfer possibilities of this technique. The points of interest of this paper are the origin of HA from various sustainable resources, the extraction methods employed, the supplemental functional groups, and ions present in animal-origin HA targets and coatings as compared to synthetic HA, the coatings’ morphology function of the type of HA, and the structure and crystalline status after deposition (where properties were superior to synthetic HA), and the influence of various dopants on these properties. The most interesting studies published in the last decade in scientific literature were compared and morphological, elemental, structural, and mechanical data were compiled and interpreted. The biological response of different types of animal-origin apatites on a variety of cell types was qualitatively assessed by comparing MTS assay data of various studies, where the testing conditions were possible. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of some doped animal-origin HA coatings was also discussed.

The Regenerative Applicability of Bioactive Glass and Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate in Bone Tissue Engineering: A Transformation Perspective

The conventional applicability of biomaterials in the field of bone tissue engineering takes into consideration several key parameters to achieve desired results for prospective translational use. Hence, several engineering strategies have been developed to model in the regenerative parameters of different forms of biomaterials, including bioactive glass and β-tricalcium phosphate. This review examines the different ways these two materials are transformed and assembled with other regenerative factors to improve their application for bone tissue engineering. We discuss the role of the engineering strategy used and the regenerative responses and mechanisms associated with them.

Bioactive calcium phosphate materials and applications in bone regeneration

BACKGROUND

Bone regeneration involves various complex biological processes. Many experiments have been performed using biomaterials in vivo and in vitro to promote and understand bone regeneration. Among the many biomaterials, calcium phosphates which exist in the natural bone have been conducted a number of studies because of its bone regenerative property. It can be directly contributed to bone regeneration process or assist in the use of other biomaterials. Therefore, it is widely used in many applications and has been continuously studied.

MAINBODY

Calcium phosphate has been widely used in bone regeneration applications because it shows osteoconductive and in some cases osteoinductive features. The release of calcium and phosphorus ions regulates the activation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts to facilitate bone regeneration. The control of surface properties and porosity of calcium phosphate affects cell/protein adhesion and growth and regulates bone mineral formation. Properties affecting bioactivity vary depending on the types of calcium phosphates such as HAP, TCP and can be utilized in various applications because of differences in ion release, solubility, stability, and mechanical strength. In order to make use of these properties, different calcium phosphates have been used together or mixed with other materials to complement their disadvantages and to highlight their advantages. Calcium phosphate has been utilized to improve bone regeneration in ways such as increasing osteoconductivity for bone ingrowth, enhancing osteoinductivity for bone mineralization with ion release control, and encapsulating drugs or growth factors.

CONCLUSION

Calcium phosphate has been used for bone regeneration in various forms such as coating, cement and scaffold based on its unique bioactive properties and bone regeneration effectiveness. Additionally, several studies have been actively carried out to improve the efficacy of calcium phosphate in combination with various healing agents. By summarizing the properties of calcium phosphate and its research direction, we hope that calcium phosphate can contribute to the clinical treatment approach for bone defect and disease.

Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem cells in a 3D Woven Scaffold

Fiber-based scaffolds produced by textile manufacturing technology offer versatile materials for tissue engineering applications since a wide range of crucial scaffold parameters, including porosity, pore size and interconnectivity, can be accurately controlled using 3D weaving. In this study, we developed a weavable, bioactive biodegradable composite fiber from poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and hydroxyapatite powder by melt spinning. Subsequently, scaffolds of these fibers were fabricated by 3D weaving. The differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro was studied on the 3D scaffolds and compared with differentiation on 2D substrates having the same material composition. Our data showed that the 3D woven scaffolds have a major impact on hMSCs proliferation and activation. The 3D architecture supports the differentiation of the hMSCs into osteoblast cells and enhances the production of mineralized bone matrix. The present study further confirms that a 3D scaffold promotes hMSCs differentiation into the osteoblast–lineage and bone mineralization.

Promotion of bone regeneration on titanium implants through a chemical treatment process using calcium phosphate slurry: Microscopic analysis, cellular response, and animal experiment

The present study provides scientific evidence that a new chemical treatment process using calcium phosphate slurry promotes bone regeneration on titanium (Ti) implants. The material's surface modified by the treatment was analyzed using microscopic observation and the bone regeneration efficacy was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Formation of a thin hydroxyapatite layer with a thickness of about 50 nm and an increase of surface roughness were confirmed by microscopic observations. Histological evaluation of rat femora implanted with the specimens showed that the areas of the specimens directly attached to bone tissue were significantly more extensive than those implanted with control Ti at 2 and 8 weeks. Likewise, on the treated Ti, ALP activity, osteopontin, osteocalcin, and calcium contents of rat bone marrow stromal cells were significantly higher than on the control Ti. Furthermore, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed greater expression of messenger ribonucleic acid encoding Cbfa1 and collagen type1 on the treated Ti at 2 weeks. Based on these results, we concluded that the new process was effective to enhance the osteoconductivity of Ti. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2716-2724, 2018.

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Immobilized on Nanotopographical Scaffolds Improve Myogenic Differentiation

The skeletal muscle consists of highly aligned dense cables of collagen fibers with nanometer feature size to support muscle fibers. The skeletal myocyte can be greatly affected to differentiate by their surrounding topographical structure. To improve myogenic differentiation, we fabricated cell culture platform that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) which regulated myocyte behavior is immobilized on a biomimetic nanopatterned polyurethaneacrylate (PUA) substrate using 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) for providing topographical and biological cues synergistically. In the present study, we hypothesized that cultured C2C12 cells can be induced to synergistically promote myogenic differenntiation on nanopatterned PUA-L-DOPA-S1P. We confirmed that nanopatterned PUA-L-DOPA-S1P has high hydrophilicity with a suitable range of water contact angle and small intensity of phosphate peak (P2p) by analyses of water contact analyzer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In addition, C2C12 cells culured on nanopatterned PUA-L-DOPA-S1P has well-oriented and organized myodubes formed with greater expression of myogenic regulatory factors such as MyoD and MyoG comapred to flat PUA groups. This functional platform which is not only provided topographical and biological cues has a suitable potential function to apply muscle cell niche as similar structure of muscle fiber but also utilized cell behavior within tissue engineered scaffolds and cellular microenvironment.

Validation of a Novel Technique and Evaluation of the Surface Free Energy of Food

Characterizing the physical properties of a surface is largely dependent on determining the contact angle exhibited by a liquid. Contact angles on the surfaces of rough and irregularly-shaped food samples are difficult to measure using a contact angle meter (goniometer). As a consequence, values for the surface energy and its components can be mismeasured. The aim of this work was to use a novel contact angle measurement method, namely the snake-based ImageJ program, to accurately measure the contact angles of rough and irregular shapes, such as food samples, and so enable more accurate calculation of the surface energy of food materials. In order to validate the novel technique, the contact angles of three different test liquids on four different smooth polymer films were measured using both the ImageJ software with the DropSnake plugin and the widely used contact angle meter. The distributions of the values obtained by the two methods were different. Therefore, the contact angles, surface energies, and polar and dispersive components of plastic films obtained using the ImageJ program and the Drop Shape Analyzer (DSA) were interpreted with the help of simple linear regression analysis. As case studies, the superficial characteristics of strawberry and endive salad epicarp were measured with the ImageJ program and the results were interpreted with the Drop Shape Analyzer equivalent according to our regression models. The data indicated that the ImageJ program can be successfully used for contact angle determination of rough and strongly hydrophobic surfaces, such as strawberry epicarp. However, for the special geometry of droplets on slightly hydrophobic surfaces, such as salad leaves, the program code interpolation part can be altered.

The pathology of the foreign body reaction against biomaterials

The healing process after implantation of biomaterials involves the interaction of many contributing factors. Besides their in vivo functionality, biomaterials also require characteristics that allow their integration into the designated tissue without eliciting an overshooting foreign body reaction (FBR). The targeted design of biomaterials with these features, thus, needs understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the FBR. Much effort has been put into research on the interaction of engineered materials and the host tissue. This elucidated many aspects of the five FBR phases, that is protein adsorption, acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, foreign body giant cell formation, and fibrous capsule formation. However, in practice, it is still difficult to predict the response against a newly designed biomaterial purely based on the knowledge of its physical-chemical surface features. This insufficient knowledge leads to a high number of factors potentially influencing the FBR, which have to be analyzed in complex animal experiments including appropriate data-based sample sizes. This review is focused on the current knowledge on the general mechanisms of the FBR against biomaterials and the influence of biomaterial surface topography and chemical and physical features on the quality and quantity of the reaction. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 927-940, 2017.

Improving Osteoblast Response In Vitro by a Nanostructured Thin Film with Titanium Carbide and Titanium Oxides Clustered around Graphitic Carbon

Introduction

Recently, we introduced a new deposition method, based on Ion Plating Plasma Assisted technology, to coat titanium implants with a thin but hard nanostructured layer composed of titanium carbide and titanium oxides, clustered around graphitic carbon. The nanostructured layer has a double effect: protects the bulk titanium against the harsh conditions of biological tissues and in the same time has a stimulating action on osteoblasts.

Results

The aim of this work is to describe the biological effects of this layer on osteoblasts cultured in vitro. We demonstrate that the nanostructured layer causes an overexpression of many early genes correlated to proteins involved in bone turnover and an increase in the number of surface receptors for α3β1 integrin, talin, paxillin. Analyses at single-cell level, by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and single cell force spectroscopy, show how the proliferation, adhesion and spreading of cells cultured on coated titanium samples are higher than on uncoated titanium ones. Finally, the chemistry of the layer induces a better formation of blood clots and a higher number of adhered platelets, compared to the uncoated cases, and these are useful features to improve the speed of implant osseointegration.

Conclusion

In summary, the nanostructured TiC film, due to its physical and chemical properties, can be used to protect the implants and to improve their acceptance by the bone.

Effect of Roughness on in Situ Biomineralized CaP-Collagen Coating on the Osteogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Because of its outstanding osteo-conductive property, a calcium phosphate (CaP) coating has been used as an implant coating for bone tissue engineering. Nevertheless, the issues, such as harsh fabrication conditions, long-term stability and biocompatibility, and the requirement for expensive instruments, still exist in current coating techniques. To address these issues, the CaP coatings doped with collagen (CaP-Col) were in situ generated on polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) by incubating PEMs in a mixture of the collagen, phosphate, and calcium ions. The resulting coatings have controllable physical properties (chemical composition, crystallinity, and roughness) and good stability before and after incubation with cell culture medium. We also found that both the cellular viability and osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were closely related to the roughness of PEMs/CaP-Col, one of the easily ignored physical factors in current coating designs but very critical. The existed roughness window (between 18 ± 1.2 and 187 ± 7.3 nm) suitable for MSC proliferation on PEMs/CaP-Col coating and the optimal roughness (∼98 ± 3.5 nm) for MSC osteogenesis further demonstrated that the roughness was a critical factor for bone formation. Therefore, we envision that our exploration of the effects of surface roughness on MSC behaviors would provide better guidance for the future design of material coating and eventual medical success.

Ascertaining effects of nanoscale polymeric interfaces on competitive protein adsorption at the individual protein level

With the recent development of biomaterials and biodevices with reduced dimensionality, it is critical to comprehend protein adhesion processes to nanoscale solid surfaces, especially those occurring in a competitive adsorption environment. Complex sequences of adhesion events in competitive adsorption involving multicomponent protein systems have been extensively investigated, but our understanding is still limited primarily to macroscopic adhesion onto chemically simple surfaces. We examine the competitive adsorption behavior from a binary protein mixture containing bovine serum albumin and fibrinogen at the single protein level. We subsequently evaluate a series of adsorption and displacement processes occurring on both the macroscopic homopolymer and nanoscopic diblock copolymer surfaces, while systematically varying the protein concentration and incubation time. We identify the similarities and dissimilarities in competitive protein adsorption behavior between the two polymeric surfaces, the former presenting chemical uniformity at macroscale versus the latter exhibiting periodic nanointerfaces of chemically alternating polymeric segments. We then present our novel experimental finding of a large increase in the nanointerface-engaged residence time of the initially bound proteins and further explain the origin of this phenomenon manifested on nanoscale diblock copolymer surfaces. The outcomes of this study may provide timely insight into nanoscale competitive protein adsorption that is much needed in designing bioimplant and tissue engineering materials. In addition, the fundamental understanding gained from this study can be beneficial for the development of highly miniaturized biodevices and biomaterials fabricated by using nanoscale polymeric materials and interfaces.

A Review of Synthesis Methods, Properties and Use of Hydroxyapatite as a Substitute of Bone

In recent years, a significant achievement has been made in developing biomaterials, in particular the design of bioceramics, from natural sources for various biomedical applications. In this review, we discuss the fundamentals of structure, function and characteristics of human bone, its calcium and phosphate composition, role and importance of bioceramics for bone repairing or regeneration. This review also outlines various isolation techniques and the application of novel marine-derived hydroxyapatite (HA) and tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) for biocomposites engineering, and their potentials for bone substitute and bone regeneration.

Response of human bone marrow-derived MSCs on triphasic Ca-P substrate with various HA/TCP ratio

Calcium phosphates (Ca-P) are used commonly as artificial bone substitutes to control the biodegradation rate of an implant in the body fluid. This study examined the in vitro proliferation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) on triphasic Ca-P samples. For this aspect, hydroxyapatite (HA), dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD), and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂ ) were mixed at various ratios, cold compacted, and sintered at 1250°C in air. X-ray diffraction showed that the β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) to α-TCP phase transformation increased with increasing DCPD/HA ratio. The micro-hardness deceased with increasing TCP content, whereas the mean grain size and porosity increased with increasing TCP concentration. To evaluate the in vitro degree of adhesion and proliferation on the HA/TCP samples, human BMSCs were incubated on the HA/TCP samples and analyzed by a cells proliferation assay, expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) genes, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin (FN), and FITC-phalloidin fluorescent staining. In terms of the interactions of human BMSCs with the triphasic Ca-P samples, H50T50 (Ca/P = 1.59) markedly enhanced cell spreading, proliferation, FN, and α-SMA compared with H100T0 (Ca/P = 1.67). Interestingly, these results show that among the five HA/TCP samples, H50T50 is the optimal Ca-P composition for in vitro cell proliferation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 72-80, 2017.

The effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on osteoblast-like cells cultured on titanium and titanium-zirconium surfaces

BACKGROUND

Commercially pure Ti, together with Ti Ni, Ti-6Al-4V, and Ti-6Al-7Nb alloys, are among the materials currently being used for this purpose. Titanium-zirconium (TiZr) has been developed that allows SLActive surface modification and that has comparable or better mechanical strength and improved biocompatibility compared with existing Ti alloys. Furthermore, approaches have targeted making the implant surface more hydrophilic, as with the Straumann SLActive surface, a modification of the SLA surface.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) to the behavior of neonatal rat calvarial osteoblast-like cells cultured on commercially pure titanium (cpTi) and titanium-zirconium alloy (TiZr) discs with hydrophilic surface properties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Osteoblast cells were cultured on titanium and TiZr discs, and PEMF was applied. Cell proliferation rates, cell numbers, cell viability rates, alkaline phosphatase, and midkine (MK) levels were measured at 24 and 72 hours.

RESULTS

At 24 hours, the number of cells was significantly higher in the TiZr group. At 72 hours, TiZr had a significantly higher number of cells when compared to SLActive, SLActive + PEMF, and machine surface + PEMF groups. At 24 hours, cell proliferation was significantly higher in the TiZr group than SLActive and TiZr + PEMF group. At 72 hours, TiZr group had higher proliferation rate than machine surface and TiZr + PEMF. Cell proliferation in the machine surface group was lower than both SLActive + PEMF and machine surface + PEMF. MK levels of PEMF-treated groups were lower than untreated groups for 72 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings conclude that TiZr surfaces are similar to cpTi surfaces in terms of biocompatibility. However, PEMF application has a higher stimulative effect on cells cultured on cpTi surfaces when compared to TiZr.

Proteins, platelets, and blood coagulation at biomaterial interfaces

Blood coagulation and platelet adhesion remain major impediments to the use of biomaterials in implantable medical devices. There is still significant controversy and question in the field regarding the role that surfaces play in this process. This manuscript addresses this topic area and reports on state of the art in the field. Particular emphasis is placed on the subject of surface engineering and surface measurements that allow for control and observation of surface-mediated biological responses in blood and test solutions. Appropriate use of surface texturing and chemical patterning methodologies allow for reduction of both blood coagulation and platelet adhesion, and new methods of surface interrogation at high resolution allow for measurement of the relevant biological factors.

Synthesis and characterization of xanthan-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for cellular uptake

In this work xanthan-nanohydroxyapatite (XnHAp) and its equivalent strontium substituted (XnHApSr) were synthesized by the precipitation of nanohydroxyapatite in xanthan aqueous solution, characterized and compared to conventional hydroxyapatite particles (HAp). XnHAp and XnHApSr were less crystalline than HAp, as revealed by X-ray diffraction. Xanthan chains enriched the surface of XnHAp and XnHApSr particles, increasing the zeta potential values from -(7±1)mV, determined for HAp, to -(17±3)mV and -(25±3)mV, respectively. This effect led to high colloidal stability of XnHAp and XnHApSr dispersions and acicular particles (140±10)nm long and (8±2)nm wide, as determined by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. XnHAp and XnHApSr particles were added to xanthan hydrogels to produce compatible nanocomposites (XCA/XnHAp and XCA/XnHApSr). Dried nanocomposites presented surface energy, Young's modulus and stress at break values comparable to those determined for bare xanthan matrix. Moreover, adding XnHAp or XnHApSr nanoparticles to xanthan hydrogel did not influence its porous morphology, gel content and swelling ratio. XCA/XnHAp and XCA/XnHApSr composites proved to be suitable for osteoblast growth and particularly XCA/XnHapSr composites induced higher alkaline phosphatase activity.

Cellular performance comparison of biomimetic calcium phosphate coating and alkaline-treated titanium surface

The influence of biomimetic calcium phosphate coating on osteoblasts behavior in vitro is not well established yet. In this study, we investigated the behavior of osteoblastic rat osteosarcoma 17/2.8 cells (ROS17/2.8) on two groups of biomaterial surfaces: alkaline-treated titanium surface (ATT) and biomimetic calcium phosphate coated ATT (CaP). The cell attachment, proliferation, differentiation, and morphology on these surfaces were extensively evaluated to reveal the impact of substrate surface on osteoblastic cell responses. It was found that the ROS17/2.8 cells cultured on the ATT surface had higher attachment and proliferation rates compared to those on the CaP surface. Our results also showed that the calcium phosphate coatings generated in this work have an inhibiting effect on osteoblast adhesion and further influenced the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast compared to the ATT surface in vitro. Cells on the ATT surface also exhibited a higher alkaline phosphatase activity than on the CaP surface after two weeks of culture. Immunofluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy results showed that the cells adhered and spread faster on the ATT surface than on the CaP surface. These results collectively suggested that substrate surface properties directly influence cell adhesion on different biomaterials, which would result in further influence on the cell proliferation and differentiation.

Calcium phosphate ceramics in bone tissue engineering: a review of properties and their influence on cell behavior

Calcium phosphate ceramics (CPCs) have been widely used as biomaterials for the regeneration of bone tissue because of their ability to induce osteoblastic differentiation in progenitor cells. Despite the progress made towards fabricating CPCs possessing a range of surface features and chemistries, the influence of material properties in orchestrating cellular events such as adhesion and differentiation is still poorly understood. Specifically, questions such as why certain CPCs may be more osteoinductive than others, and how material properties contribute to osteoinductivity/osteoconductivity remain unanswered. Therefore, this review article systematically discusses the effects of the physical (e.g. surface roughness) and chemical properties (e.g. solubility) of CPCs on protein adsorption, cell adhesion and osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. The review also provides a summary of possible signaling pathways involved in osteoblastic differentiation in the presence of CPCs. In summary, these insights on the contribution of material properties towards osteoinductivity and the role of signaling molecules involved in osteoblastic differentiation can potentially aid the design of CPC-based biomaterials that support bone regeneration without the need for additional biochemical supplements.

Addition of nanoscaled bioinspired surface features: A revolution for bone related implants and scaffolds?

Our expanding ability to handle the "literally invisible" building blocks of our world has started to provoke a seismic shift on the technology, environment and health sectors of our society. During the last two decades, it has become increasingly evident that the "nano-sized" subunits composing many materials—living, natural and synthetic—are becoming more and more accessible for predefined manipulations at the nanosize scale. The use of equally nanoscale sized or functionalised tools may, therefore, grant us unprecedented prospects to achieve many therapeutic aims. In the past decade it became clear that nano-scale surface topography significantly influences cell behaviour and may, potentially, be utilised as a powerful tool to enhance the bioactivity and/ or integration of implanted devices. In this review, we briefly outline the state of the art and some of the current approaches and concepts for the future utilisation of nanotechnology to create biomimetic implantable medical devices and scaffolds for in vivo and in vitro tissue engineering,with a focus on bone. Based on current knowledge it must be concluded that not the materials and surfaces themselves but the systematic biological evaluation of these new material concepts represent the bottleneck for new biomedical product development based on nanotechnological principles.

Protein adsorption on single-crystal hydroxyapatite particles with preferred orientation to a(b)- and c-axes

Adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LSZ) proteins with preferred orientation to a(b)- and c-axes of single-crystal hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles, was investigated. Fiber-like HAp single crystal particles (aHAp) and plate-like HAp single crystal particles (cHAp) were used as models for a(b)-plane and c-plane oriented HAps, respectively, together with randomly shaped HAp particles (iHAp) as a control. The selective adsorption behaviors of negatively charged BSA and positively charged LSZ on these HAp particles were examined in a phosphate buffered saline at pH 7.3 and 25 °C for 48 h. The amount of BSA adsorption, normalized for specific surface area, was in the order of aHAp > iHAp > cHAp; however, the order for LSZ was reversed as cHAp > iHAp ≒ aHAp. These results indicate that the a(b)- and c-planes of HAp crystal have high specificity for the adsorption of acidic or basic proteins.

Phase composition control of calcium phosphate nanoparticles for tunable drug delivery kinetics and treatment of osteomyelitis. I. Preparation and drug release

Developed in this study is a multifunctional material for simultaneous osseoinduction and drug delivery, potentially applicable in the treatment of osteomyelitis. It is composed of agglomerates of nanoparticles of calcium phosphate (CAP) with different monophasic contents. The drug-loading capacity and the release kinetics were investigated on two model drug compounds with different chemical structures, sizes, and adsorption propensities: bovine serum albumin and fluorescein. Loading of CAP powders with small molecule drugs was achieved by physisorption and desiccation-induced agglomeration of nanoparticulate subunits into microscopic blocks. The material dissolution rate and the drug release rate depended on the nature of the CAP phase, decreasing from monocalcium phosphate to monetite to amorphous CAP and calcium pyrophosphate to hydroxyapatite. The sustained release of the two model drugs was shown to be directly relatable to the degradation rate of CAP carriers. It was demonstrated that the degradation rate of the carrier and the drug release kinetics could be made tunable within the time scale of 1-2 h for the most soluble CAP phase, monocalcium phosphate, to 1-2 years for the least soluble one, hydroxyapatite. From the standpoint of antibiotic therapy for osteomyelitis, typically lasting for 6 weeks, the most prospective CAP powder was amorphous CAP with its release time scale for a small organic molecule, the same category to which antibiotics belong, of 1-2 months under the conditions applied in our experiments. By combining these different CAP phases in various proportions, drug release profiles could be tailored to the therapeutic occasion.