Biodegradable elastomeric scaffolds with basic fibroblast growth factor release

Effect of vascularized jejunal conduit flap on peripheral nerve regeneration in rats

Background/aim

In the literature, almost all of the nerve conduits proposed for obtaining better nerve recovery were applied as graft materials. In this study, we aimed to propose a new nerve conduit model with a flap pattern and evaluate the effect of a pedicled vascularized jejunal flap on nerve regeneration after wrapping it around a sciatic nerve.

Materials and methods

A total of 90 Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into nine groups with 10 rats in each. The first three groups constituted the control groups, whereas Groups 4-6 were the jejunum conduit (JC)-applied groups. A mucosa-resected JC (MRJC) was applied in Groups 7 and 8. Epineurial neurorrhaphy was performed in Groups 1, 4, and 7; repair with a nerve graft was applied in Groups 2, 5, and 8; and a 1-cm-long nerve defect was created in Groups 3, 6, and 9. After 2 months of follow-up, nerve regeneration was assessed by statistical analyses of the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) and histopathological evaluation.

Results

The MRJC groups had significantly better results in terms of SFI (p = 0.005). Statistical differences in axonal degeneration, axonal density, myelination, and disorganization were found between all control groups and MRJC groups (p = 0.022, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.039, respectively).

Conclusion

In this study, the feasibility of wrapping around the nerve repair zones of pedicled autologous flaps designed in a tubular fashion was observed in a small rat model. The findings must be further validated with larger animals before clinical testing.

3D Printing Cervical Implant Scaffolds Incorporated with Drug-Loaded Carboxylated Chitosan Microspheres for Long-Term Anti-HPV Protein Delivery

As attempting personalized medicine, 3D-printed tissue engineering scaffolds are employed to combine with therapeutic proteins/peptides especially in the clinical treatment of infectious diseases, genetic diseases, and cancers. However, current drug-loading methods, such as immersion and encapsulation, usually lead to the burst release of the drugs. To address these issues, we proposed an integrated strategy toward the long-term controlled release of protein. In this study, patient-customized 3D scaffolds incorporated with drug-loaded microspheres were printed to realize the effective delivery of the anti-human papillomavirus (anti-HPV) protein after cervical conization in the treatment of cervical cancer. The 3D-printed scaffold could provide mechanical support to the defect site and ensure local release of the drug to avoid systemic administration. Meanwhile, microspheres serve as functional components to prevent the inactivation of proteins, as well as regulate their release period to meet the time requirement of different treatment courses. The research also utilized bovine serum albumin as a model protein to validate the feasibility of these scaffolds as a generic technology platform. The bioactivity of the released anti-HPV protein was validated using a pseudovirus model, which demonstrated that the microsphere encapsulation would not cause protein denaturation during the scaffold fabrication process. Besides, 3D-printed scaffolds incorporated with carboxylated chitosan microspheres were biocompatible and beneficial for cell attachment, which have been demonstrated by favorable cell viability and better coverage results for HeLa and HFF-1. This study highlights the great potential of scaffolds incorporated with microspheres to serve as tissue engineering candidate products with the function of effective protein delivery in a long-term controlled manner and personalized shapes for clinical trials.

Investigating the vascularization capacity of a decellularized dental pulp matrix seeded with human dental pulp stem cells: in vitro and preliminary in vivo evaluations

AIM

To investigate the vascularization capacity of a decellularized dental pulp matrix (DDP) of bovine origin seeded with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) in vitro and to present preliminary in vivo findings.

METHODOLOGY

Bovine dental pulps were decellularized and then analysed using histological staining and DNA quantification. The resultant DDPs were characterized using immunohistochemical staining for the retention of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2). Furthermore, DDPs were recellularized with hDPSCs and analysed histologically. The expression of markers involved in angiogenesis by hDPSCs colonizing the DDPs was assessed in vitro. A preliminary in vivo study was then conducted in which hDPSCs-seeded and unseeded DDPs were inserted in debrided human premolars root slices and implanted subcutaneously in immunodeficient mice. Samples were retrieved after 30 days and analysed using histological and immunohistochemical staining. The independent samples t-test, analysis of variance and a Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyse the quantitative data statistically depending on the group numbers and normality of data distribution. The difference between the groups was considered significant when the P-value was less than 0.05.

RESULTS

Acellular dental pulp matrices were generated following bovine dental pulp decellularization. Evaluation of the developed DDPs revealed a significant DNA reduction (P < 0.0001) with preservation of the native histoarchitecture and vasculature and retention of VEGF-A and FGF-2. Upon recellularization of the DDPs with hDPSCs, the in vitro analyses revealed cell engraftment with progressive repopulation of DDPs' matrices and vasculature and with enhanced expression of markers involved in angiogenesis. In vivo implantation of root slices with hDPSCs-seeded DDPs revealed apparent vascularization enhancement as compared to the unseeded DDP group (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The developed decellularized dental pulp matrix had pro-angiogenic properties characterized by the retention of native vasculature and angiogenic growth factors. Seeding of hDPSCs into the DDP led to progressive repopulation of the vasculature, enhanced expression of markers involved in angiogenesis in hDPSCs and improved in vivo vascularization capacity. The se suggest that a combination of DDP and hDPSCs have the potential to provide a promising vascularization promoting strategy for dental pulp regeneration.

Mussel-Inspired Surface Immobilization of Heparin on Magnetic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Wound Repair via Sustained Release of a Growth Factor and M2 Macrophage Polarization

Efficient reconstruction of a fully functional skin after wounds requires multiple functionalities of wound dressing due to the complexity of healing. In these regards, topical administration of functionalized nanoparticles capable of sustainably releasing bioactive agents to the wound site may significantly accelerate wound repair. Among the various nanoparticles, superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles gain increasing attractiveness due to their intrinsic response to an external magnetic field (eMF). Herein, based on the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle, we developed a fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-loaded Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle using a simple mussel-inspired surface immobilization method. This nanoparticle, named as bFGF-HDC@Fe₃O₄, could stabilize bFGF in various conditions and exhibited sustained release of bFGF. In addition, an in vitro study discovered that bFGF-HDC@Fe₃O₄ could promote macrophage polarization toward an anti-inflammatory (pro-healing) M2 phenotype especially under eMF. Further, in vivo full-thickness wound animal models demonstrated that bFGF-HDC@Fe₃O₄ could significantly accelerate wound healing through M2 macrophage polarization and increased cell proliferation. Therefore, this approach of realizing sustained the release of the growth factor with magnetically macrophage regulating behavior through modification of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles offers promising potential to tissue-regenerative applications.

Understanding angiogenesis and the role of angiogenic growth factors in the vascularisation of engineered tissues

Tissue engineering is a rapidly developing field with many potential clinical applications in tissue and organ regeneration. The development of a mature and stable vasculature within these engineered tissues (ET) remains a significant obstacle. Currently, several growth factors (GFs) have been identified to play key roles within in vivo angiogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), FGF and angiopoietins. In this article we attempt to build on in vivo principles to review the single, dual and multiple GF release systems and their effects on promoting angiogenesis. We conclude that multiple GF release systems offer superior results compared to single and dual systems with more stable, mature and larger vessels produced. However, with more complex release systems this raises other problems such as increased cost and significant GF-GF interactions. Upstream regulators and pericyte-coated scaffolds could provide viable alternative to circumnavigate these issues.

Bioactive Glasses: A Promising Therapeutic Ion Release Strategy for Enhancing Wound Healing

The morbidity, mortality, and burden of burn victims and patients with severe diabetic wounds are still high, which leads to an extensively growing demand for novel treatments with high clinical efficacy. Biomaterial-based wound treatment approaches have progressed over time from simple cotton wool dressings to advanced skin substitutes containing cells and growth factors; however, no wound care approach is yet completely satisfying. Bioactive glasses are materials with potential in many areas that exhibit unique features in biomedical applications. Today, bioactive glasses are not only amorphous solid structures that can be used as a substitute in hard tissue but also are promising materials for soft tissue regeneration and wound healing applications. Biologically active elements such as Ag, B, Ca, Ce, Co, Cu, Ga, Mg, Se, Sr, and Zn can be incorporated in glass networks; hence, the superiority of these multifunctional materials over current materials results from their ability to release multiple therapeutic ions in the wound environment, which target different stages of the wound healing process. Bioactive glasses and their dissolution products have high potency for inducing angiogenesis and exerting several biological impacts on cell functions, which are involved in wound healing and some other features that are valuable in wound healing applications, namely hemostatic and antibacterial properties. In this review, we focus on skin structure, the dynamic process of wound healing in injured skin, and existing wound care approaches. The basic concepts of bioactive glasses are reviewed to better understand the relationship between glass structure and its properties. We illustrate the active role of bioactive glasses in wound repair and regeneration. Finally, research studies that have used bioactive glasses in wound healing applications are summarized and the future trends in this field are elaborated.

Biocompatibility and bioactivity of an FGF-loaded microsphere-based bilayer delivery system

Many drug delivery systems rely on degradation or dissolution of the carrier material to regulate release. In cases where mechanical support is required during regeneration, this necessitates composite systems in which the mechanics of the implant are decoupled from the drug release profile. To address this need, we developed a system in which microspheres (MS) were sequestered in a defined location between two nanofibrous layers. This bilayer delivery system (BiLDS) enables simultaneous structural support and decoupled release profiles. To test this new system, PLGA (poly-lactide-co-glycolic acid) microspheres were prepared using a water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion technique and incorporated Alexa Fluor-tagged bovine serum albumin (BSA) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). These MS were secured in a defined pocket between two polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous scaffolds, where the layered scaffolds provide a template for new tissue formation while enabling independent and local release from the co-delivered MS. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the assembled BiLDS could localize and retain MS in the central pocket that was surrounded by a continuous seal formed along the margin. Cell viability and proliferation assays showed enhanced cell activity when exposed to BiLDS containing Alexa Fluor-BSA/bFGF-loaded MS, both in vitro and in vivo. MS delivered via the BiLDS system persisted in a localized area after subcutaneous implantation for at least 4 weeks, and bFGF release increased colonization of the implant. These data establish the BiLDS technology as a sustained in vivo drug delivery platform that can localize protein and other growth factor release to a surgical site while providing a structural template for new tissue formation. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Localized and controlled delivery systems for the sustained release of drugs are essential. Many strategies have been developed for this purpose, but most rely on degradation (and loss of material properties) for delivery. Here, we developed a bilayer delivery system (BiLDS) that decouples the physical properties of a scaffold from its delivery kinetics. For this, biodegradable PLGA microspheres were sequestered within a central pocket of a slowly degrading nanofibrous bilayer. Using this device, we show enhanced cell activity with FGF delivery from the BiLDS both in vitro and in vivo. These data support that BiLDS can localize sustained protein and biofactor delivery to a surgical site while also serving as a mechanical scaffold for tissue repair and regeneration.

A novel elastic and controlled-release poly(ether-ester-urethane)urea scaffold for cartilage regeneration

In the tissue engineering of cartilage, scaffolds with appropriate elasticity and controlled-release properties are essential. Herein, we synthesized a poly(ether-ester-urethane)urea scaffold with a pendant amino group (PEEUUN) through a de-protection process from PEEUU-Boc polymers and grafted kartogenin (KGN) onto the PEEUUN scaffolds (PEEUUN-KGN). Characterization, performance tests, scaffold biocompatibility analysis, and chondrogenesis evaluation both in vitro and in vivo were conducted. The results revealed that the PEEUUN-KGN scaffolds were degradable and three-dimensional (3D) with interconnected pores, and possessed good elasticity, as well as excellent cytocompatibility. Meanwhile, KGN on the PEEUUN-KGN scaffolds underwent stable sustained release for a long time and promoted human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) to differentiate into chondrocytes in vitro, thus enhancing cartilage regeneration in vivo. In conclusion, the present PEEUUN-KGN scaffolds would have application potential for cartilage tissue engineering.

Biomechanical Properties and Biocompatibility of a Non-Absorbable Elastic Thread

To date, extensive studies have been conducted to assess diverse types of sutures. But there is a paucity of data regarding biomechanical properties of commonly used suture materials. In the current experiment, we compared biomechanical properties and biocompatibility, such as tensile strength and elongation, the degree of bovine serum albumin (BSA) release, in vitro cytotoxicity and ex vivo frictional properties, between a non-absorbable elastic thread (NAT; HansBiomed Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea) (NAT-R: NAT with a rough surface, NAT-S: NAT with a smooth surface) and the Elasticum® (Korpo SRL, Genova, Italy). The degree of tensile strength and elongation of Si threads was significantly higher in both the NAT-R and -S as compared with the Elasticum® (p < 0.05). Moreover, the degree of tensile strength and elongation of PET threads was significantly lower in both NAT-R and -S as compared with the Elasticum® (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the degree of tensile strength and elongation of braided Si/PET threads was significantly lower in NAT-S as compared with NAT-R and Elasticum® (p < 0.05). The degree of BSA release was significantly higher in the NAT-R as compared with Elasticum® and NAT-S throughout a 2-h period in the descending order (p < 0.05). The degree of cell viability was significantly higher in both NAT-R and -S as compared with Elasticum® (p < 0.05). The degree of coefficient of friction as well as the frictional force and strength was significantly higher in NAT-R as compared with NAT-S and Elasticum® (p < 0.05). NAT had a higher degree of biomechanical properties and biocompatibility as compared with Elasticum®. But further experimental and clinical studies are warranted to compare the efficacy, safety, and potential role as a carrier for drug delivery between NAT and Elasticum®.

Bioprinting of Vascularized Tissue Scaffolds: Influence of Biopolymer, Cells, Growth Factors, and Gene Delivery

Over the past decades, tissue regeneration with scaffolds has achieved significant progress that would eventually be able to solve the worldwide crisis of tissue and organ regeneration. While the recent advancement in additive manufacturing technique has facilitated the biofabrication of scaffolds mimicking the host tissue, thick tissue regeneration remains challenging to date due to the growing complexity of interconnected, stable, and functional vascular network within the scaffold. Since the biological performance of scaffolds affects the blood vessel regeneration process, perfect selection and manipulation of biological factors (i.e., biopolymers, cells, growth factors, and gene delivery) are required to grow capillary and macro blood vessels. Therefore, in this study, a brief review has been presented regarding the recent progress in vasculature formation using single, dual, or multiple biological factors. Besides, a number of ways have been presented to incorporate these factors into scaffolds. The merits and shortcomings associated with the application of each factor have been highlighted, and future research direction has been suggested.

MSC-derived sEVs enhance patency and inhibit calcification of synthetic vascular grafts by immunomodulation in a rat model of hyperlipidemia

Vascular grafts often exhibit low patency rates in clinical settings due to the pathological environment within the patients requiring the surgery. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have attracted increasing attention. These sEVs contain many potent signaling molecules that play important roles in tissue regeneration, such as microRNA and cytokines. In this study, a sEVs-functionalized vascular graft was developed, and in vivo performance was systematically evaluated in a rat model of hyperlipidemia. Electrospun poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) vascular grafts were first modified with heparin, to enhance the anti-thrombogenicity. MSC-derived sEVs were loaded onto the heparinized PCL grafts to obtain functional vascular grafts. As-prepared vascular grafts were implanted to replace a segment of rat abdominal artery (1 cm) for up to 3 months. Results showed that the incorporation of MSC-derived sEVs effectively inhibited thrombosis and calcification, thus enhancing the patency of vascular grafts. Furthermore, regeneration of the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle was markedly enhanced, as attributed to the bioactive molecules within the sEVs, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), miRNA126, and miRNA145. More importantly, MSC-derived sEVs demonstrated a robust immunomodulatory effect, that is, they induced the transition of macrophages from a pro-inflammatory and atherogenic (M1) phenotype to an anti-inflammatory and anti-osteogenic (M2c) phenotype. This phenotypic switch was confirmed in both in vitro and in vivo analyses. Taken together, these results suggest that fabrication of vascular grafts with immunomodulatory function can provide an effective approach to improve vascular performance and functionality, with translational implication in cardiovascular regenerative medicine.

Synthesis, characterization & cytocompatibility of poly (diol-co-tricarballylate) based thermally crosslinked elastomers for drug delivery & tissue engineering applications

The aim of this study was to investigate the synthesis and in vitro characterization of thermoset biodegradable poly (diol-co-tricarballylate) (PDT) elastomeric polymers for the purpose of their use in implantable drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. The synthesis was based on thermal crosslinking technique via a polycondensation reaction of tricarballylic acid with aliphatic diols of varying chain lengths (C6-C12). PDT prepolymers were synthesized at 140 °C for 20 min. After purification, the prepolymers were molded and kept at 120 °C for 18 h under vacuum to complete the crosslinking process. PDT prepolymers were characterized by DSC, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and GPC. The PDT elastomers were also subjected to thermal and structural analysis, as well as sol content, mechanical testing, in vitro degradation and cytocompatibility studies. The mechanical properties and sol content were found to be dependent on synthesis conditions and can be controlled by manipulating the crosslinking density and number of methylene groups in the chain of precursor aliphatic diol. The family of thermally crosslinked PDT biodegradable polyesters were successfully prepared and characterized; besides they have promising use in drug delivery and other biomedical tissue engineering applications.

Biomaterial Scaffolds in Regenerative Therapy of the Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) is the most important section of the nervous system as it regulates the function of various organs. Injury to the CNS causes impairment of neurological functions in corresponding sites and further leads to long-term patient disability. CNS regeneration is difficult because of its poor response to treatment and, to date, no effective therapies have been found to rectify CNS injuries. Biomaterial scaffolds have been applied with promising results in regeneration medicine. They also show great potential in CNS regeneration for tissue repair and functional recovery. Biomaterial scaffolds are applied in CNS regeneration predominantly as hydrogels and biodegradable scaffolds. They can act as cellular supportive scaffolds to facilitate cell infiltration and proliferation. They can also be combined with cell therapy to repair CNS injury. This review discusses the categories and progression of the biomaterial scaffolds that are applied in CNS regeneration.

Nitro-Oleic Acid (NO2-OA) Release Enhances Regional Angiogenesis in a Rat Abdominal Wall Defect Model

Ventral hernia is often addressed surgically by the placement of prosthetic materials, either synthetic or from allogeneic and xenogeneic biologic sources. Despite advances in surgical approaches and device design, a number of postsurgical limitations remain, including hernia recurrence, mesh encapsulation, and reduced vascularity of the implanted volume. The in situ controlled release of angiogenic factors from a scaffold facilitating abdominal wall repair might address some of these issues associated with suboptimal tissue reconstruction. Furthermore, a biocomposite material that combines the favorable mechanical properties achievable with synthetic materials and the bioactivity associated with xenogeneic tissue sources would be desirable. In this report, an abdominal wall repair scaffold has been designed based on a microfibrous, elastomeric poly(ester carbonate)urethane urea matrix integrated with a hydrogel derived from decellularized porcine dermis (extracellular matrix [ECM] gel) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres loaded with nitro-oleic acid (NO₂-OA). NO₂-OA is an electrophilic fatty acid nitro-alkene derivative that, under hypoxic conditions, induces angiogenesis. This scaffold was utilized to repair a rat abdominal wall partial thickness defect, hypothesizing that the nitro-fatty acid release would facilitate increased angiogenesis at the 8-week endpoint. The quantification of neovascularization was conducted by novel methodologies to assess vessel morphology and spatial distribution. The repaired abdominal wall defects were evaluated by histopathologic methods, including quantification of the foreign body response and cellular ingrowth. The results showed that NO₂-OA release was associated with significantly improved regional angiogenesis. The combined biohybrid scaffold and NO₂-OA-controlled release strategy also reduced scaffold encapsulation, increased wall thickness, and enhanced cellular infiltration. More broadly, the three components of the composite scaffold design (ECM gel, polymeric fibers, and PLGA microparticles) enable the tuning of performance characteristics, including scaffold bioactivity, degradation, mechanics, and drug release profile, all decisive factors to better address current limitations in abdominal wall repair or other soft tissue augmentation procedures.

Development of controlled drug delivery systems for bone fracture-targeted therapeutic delivery: A review

Impaired fracture healing is a major clinical problem that can lead to patient disability, prolonged hospitalization, and significant financial burden. Although the majority of fractures heal using standard clinical practices, approximately 10% suffer from delayed unions or non-unions. A wide range of factors contribute to the risk for nonunions including internal factors, such as patient age, gender, and comorbidities, and external factors, such as the location and extent of injury. Current clinical approaches to treat nonunions include bone grafts and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), which realizes clinical success only to select patients due to limitations including donor morbidities (grafts) and necessity of fracture reduction (LIPUS), respectively. To date, therapeutic approaches for bone regeneration rely heavily on protein-based growth factors such as INFUSE, an FDA-approved scaffold for delivery of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2). Small molecule modulators and RNAi therapeutics are under development to circumvent challenges associated with traditional growth factors. While preclinical studies has shown promise, drug delivery has become a major hurdle stalling clinical translation. Therefore, this review overviews current therapies employed to stimulate fracture healing pre-clinically and clinically, including a focus on drug delivery systems for growth factors, parathyroid hormone (PTH), small molecules, and RNAi therapeutics, as well as recent advances and future promise of fracture-targeted drug delivery.

The In Vitro Enzymatic Degradation of Cross-Linked Poly(trimethylene carbonate) Networks

The in vitro enzymatic degradation of cross-linked poly(trimethylene carbonate) networks (PTMC-Ns) was performed in lipase solutions at 37 °C, and the effect of the initial molecular weight and cross-linker amount as well as the cross-linker type on the degradation rate of PTMC-Ns was investigated. Due to their denser structure and more hydrophobic surface as well as the higher glass transition temperature, a slower degradation rate was seen for PTMC-Ns with high initial molecular weight at a given cross-linker amount. Similar results could be observed as the cross-linker amount increased, and cross-linker type also influenced the degradation rate of PTMC-Ns. Furthermore, the enzymatic degradation of PTMC-Ns was accelerated by the surfactants role of lipase via surface erosion mechanism, the enzymatic degradation rate was higher than that of hydrolysis case. The results indicated that PTMC-Ns were promising candidates for clinical subcutaneous implants, especially due to their tunable degradation rate and enhanced form-stability as well as no acidic degradation products.

Development of polyurethanes for bone repair

The purpose of this paper is to review recent developments on polyurethanes aimed at the design, synthesis, modifications, and biological properties in the field of bone tissue engineering. Different polyurethane systems are presented and discussed in terms of biodegradation, biocompatibility and bioactivity. A comprehensive discussion is provided of the influence of hard to soft segments ratio, catalysts, stiffness and hydrophilicity of polyurethanes. Interaction with various cells, behavior in vivo and current strategies in enhancing bioactivity of polyurethanes are described. The discussion on the incorporation of biomolecules and growth factors, surface modifications, and obtaining polyurethane-ceramics composites strategies is held. The main emphasis is placed on the progress of polyurethane applications in bone regeneration, including bone void fillers, shape memory scaffolds, and drug carrier.

Synthesis and Fabrication of Collagen-Coated Ostholamide Electrospun Nanofiber Scaffold for Wound Healing

A novel scaffold for effective wound healing treatment was developed utilizing natural product bearing collagen-based biocompatible electrospun nanofibers. Initially, ostholamide (OSA) was synthesized from osthole (a natural coumarin), characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, DEPT-135 NMR, ESI-MS, and FT-IR spectroscopy analysis. OSA was incorporated into polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and gelatin (GEL), which serve as templates for electrospun nanofibers. The coating of OSA-PHB-GEL nanofibers with collagen resulted in PHB-GEL-OSA-COL nanofibrous scaffold which mimics extracellular matrix and serves as an effective biomaterial for tissue engineering applications, especially for wound healing. PHB-GEL-OSA-COL, along with PHB-GEL-OSA and collagen film (COLF), was characterized in vitro and in vivo to determine its efficacy. The developed PHB-GEL-OSA-COL nanofibers posed an impressive mechanical stability, an essential requirement for wound healing. The presence of OSA had contributed to antimicrobial efficacy. These scaffolds exhibited efficient antibacterial activity against common wound pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The zones of inhibition were observed to be 14 ± 22 and 10 ± 2 mm, respectively. It was observed that nanofibrous scaffold had the ability to release OSA in a controlled manner, and hence, OSA would be present at the site of application and exhibit bioactivity in a sustained manner. PHB-GEL-OSA-COL nanofiber was determined to be stable against enzymatic degradation, which is the most important parameter for promoting proliferation of cells contributing to repair and remodeling of tissues during wound healing applications. As hypothesized, PHB-GEL-OSA-COL was observed to imbibe excellent cytocompatibility, which was determined using NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell proliferation studies. PHB-GEL-OSA-COL exhibited excellent wound healing efficacy which was confirmed using full thickness excision wound model in Wistar rats. The rats treated with PHB-GEL-OSA-COL nanofibrous scaffold displayed enhanced healing when compared to untreated control. Both in vitro and in vivo analysis of PHB-GEL-OSA-COL presents a strong case of therapeutic biomaterial suiting wound repair and regeneration.

Magnetic silk fibroin e-gel scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

Recently, the incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles into standard scaffolds has emerged as a promising approach for tissue engineering applications. This strategy can promote not only tissue regeneration but also reloading of scaffolds through an external supervising center that adsorbs growth factors, preserving their stability and biological activity. In this study, novel magnetic silk fibroin e-gel scaffolds were prepared by the electrogelation process of concentrated Bombyx mori silk fibroin (8 wt%) aqueous solution. In addition, basic fibroblast growth factor was conjugated physically to human serum albumin = Fe3O4 nanoparticles (71.52 ± 2.3 nm in size) with 97.5% binding yield. Scanning electron microscopy images of the prepared human serum albumin = Fe3O4-basic fibroblast growth factor-loaded silk fibroin e-gel scaffolds showed a three-dimensional porous morphology. In terms of water uptake, basic fibroblast growth factor-conjugated scaffolds had the highest water absorbability among all groups. In vitro cell culture studies showed that both the human serum albumin coating of Fe3O4 nanoparticle surface and basic fibroblast growth factor conjugation had an inductive effect on cell viability. One of the most used markers of bone formation and osteoblast differentiation is alkaline phosphatase activity; human serum albumin = Fe3O4-basic fibroblast growth factor-loaded silk fibroin e-gels showed significantly enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity (p < 0.05). SaOS-2 cells cultured on human serum albumin = Fe3O4-basic fibroblast growth factor-loaded silk fibroin e-gels deposited more calcium compared with those cultured on bare silk fibroin e-gels. These results indicated that the proposed e-gel scaffolds are valuable candidates for magnetic guiding in bone tissue regeneration, and they will present new perspectives for magnetic field application in regenerative medicine.

Biodegradable and biomimetic elastomeric scaffolds for tissue-engineered heart valves

Valvular heart diseases are the third leading cause of cardiovascular disease, resulting in more than 25,000 deaths annually in the United States. Heart valve tissue engineering (HVTE) has emerged as a putative treatment strategy such that the designed construct would ideally withstand native dynamic mechanical environment, guide regeneration of the diseased tissue and more importantly, have the ability to grow with the patient. These desired functions could be achieved by biomimetic design of tissue-engineered constructs that recapitulate in vivo heart valve microenvironment with biomimetic architecture, optimal mechanical properties and possess suitable biodegradability and biocompatibility. Synthetic biodegradable elastomers have gained interest in HVTE due to their excellent mechanical compliance, controllable chemical structure and tunable degradability. This review focuses on the state-of-art strategies to engineer biomimetic elastomeric scaffolds for HVTE. We first discuss the various types of biodegradable synthetic elastomers and their key properties. We then highlight tissue engineering approaches to recreate some of the features in the heart valve microenvironment such as anisotropic and hierarchical tri-layered architecture, mechanical anisotropy and biocompatibility.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Heart valve tissue engineering (HVTE) is of special significance to overcome the drawbacks of current valve replacements. Although biodegradable synthetic elastomers have emerged as promising materials for HVTE, a mature HVTE construct made from synthetic elastomers for clinical use remains to be developed. Hence, this review summarized various types of biodegradable synthetic elastomers and their key properties. The major focus that distinguishes this review from the current literature is the thorough discussion on the key features of native valve microenvironments and various up-and-coming approaches to engineer synthetic elastomers to recreate these features such as anisotropic tri-layered architecture, mechanical anisotropy, biodegradability and biocompatibility. This review is envisioned to inspire and instruct the design of functional HVTE constructs and facilitate their clinical translation.

Comparative Study of Heparin-Poloxamer Hydrogel Modified bFGF and aFGF for in Vivo Wound Healing Efficiency

Wound therapy remains a clinical challenge. Incorporation of growth factors (GFs) into heparin-functionalized polymer hydrogel is considered as a promising strategy to improve wound healing efficiency. However, different GFs incorporation into the same heparin-based hydrogels often lead to different wound healing effects, and the underlying GF-induced wound healing mechanisms still remain elusive. Herein, we developed a thermos-sensitive heparin-poloxamer (HP) hydrogel to load and deliver different GFs (aFGF and bFGF) for wound healing in vivo. The resulting GFs-based hydrogels with and without HP hydrogels were systematically evaluated and compared for their wound healing efficiency by extensive in vivo tests, including wound closure rate, granulation formation, re-epithelization, cell proliferation, collagen, and angiogenesis expressions. While all GFs-based dressings with and without HP hydrogels exhibited better wound healing efficacy than controls, both HP-aFGF and HP-bFGF hydrogels demonstrated their superior healing activity to improve wound closure, granulation formation, re-epithelization, and blood vessel density by up-regulation of PCNA proliferation and collagen synthesis, as compared to GF dressings alone. More importantly, HP-aFGF dressings exhibited the higher healing efficacy than HP-bFGF dressings, indicating that different a/bFGF surface properties lead to different binding and release behaviors in HP hydrogels, both of which will affect different wound healing efficiency. On the basis of experimental observations, the working mechanisms of different healing effects of HP-GFs on full skin removal wound were proposed. This work provides different views of the design and development of an effective hydrogel-based delivery system for GFs toward rapid wound healing.

The in Vitro and in Vivo Degradation of Cross-Linked Poly(trimethylene carbonate)-Based Networks

The degradation of the poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-ε-caprolactone) (P(TMC-co-CL)) networks cross-linked by 0.01 and 0.02 mol % 2,2'-bis(trimethylene carbonate-5-yl)-butylether (BTB) was carried out in the conditions of hydrolysis and enzymes in vitro and subcutaneous implantation in vivo. The results showed that the cross-linked PTMC networks exhibited much faster degradation in enzymatic conditions in vitro and in vivo versus in a hydrolysis case due to the catalyst effect of enzymes; the weight loss and physical properties of the degraded networks were dependent on the BTB amount. The morphology observation in lipase and in vivo illustrated that enzymes played an important role in the surface erosion of cross-linked PTMC. The hydrolytic degradation rate of the cross-linked P(TMC-co-CL) networks increased with increasing ε-caprolactone (CL) content in composition due to the preferential cleavage of ester bonds. Cross-linking is an effective strategy to lower the degradation rate and enhance the form-stability of PTMC-based materials.

High Modulus Biodegradable Polyurethanes for Vascular Stents: Evaluation of Accelerated in vitro Degradation and Cell Viability of Degradation Products

We have recently reported the mechanical properties and hydrolytic degradation behavior of a series of NovoSorb™ biodegradable polyurethanes (PUs) prepared by varying the hard segment (HS) weight percentage from 60 to 100. In this study, the in vitro degradation behavior of these PUs with and without extracellular matrix (ECM) coating was investigated under accelerated hydrolytic degradation (phosphate buffer saline; PBS/70°C) conditions. The mass loss at different time intervals and the effect of aqueous degradation products on the viability and growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were examined. The results showed that PUs with HS 80% and below completely disintegrated leaving no visual polymer residue at 18 weeks and the degradation medium turned acidic due to the accumulation of products from the soft segment (SS) degradation. As expected the PU with the lowest HS was the fastest to degrade. The accumulated degradation products, when tested undiluted, showed viability of about 40% for HUVEC cells. However, the viability was over 80% when the solution was diluted to 50% and below. The growth of HUVEC cells is similar to but not identical to that observed with tissue culture polystyrene standard (TCPS). The results from this in vitro study suggested that the PUs in the series degraded primarily due to the SS degradation and the cell viability of the accumulated acidic degradation products showed poor viability to HUVEC cells when tested undiluted, however particles released to the degradation medium showed cell viability over 80%.

A review: fabrication of porous polyurethane scaffolds

The aim of tissue engineering is the fabrication of three-dimensional scaffolds that can be used for the reconstruction and regeneration of damaged or deformed tissues and organs. A wide variety of techniques have been developed to create either fibrous or porous scaffolds from polymers, metals, composite materials and ceramics. However, the most promising materials are biodegradable polymers due to their comprehensive mechanical properties, ability to control the rate of degradation and similarities to natural tissue structures. Polyurethanes (PUs) are attractive candidates for scaffold fabrication, since they are biocompatible, and have excellent mechanical properties and mechanical flexibility. PU can be applied to various methods of porous scaffold fabrication, among which are solvent casting/particulate leaching, thermally induced phase separation, gas foaming, emulsion freeze-drying and melt moulding. Scaffold properties obtained by these techniques, including pore size, interconnectivity and total porosity, all depend on the thermal processing parameters, and the porogen agent and solvents used. In this review, various polyurethane systems for scaffolds are discussed, as well as methods of fabrication, including the latest developments, and their advantages and disadvantages.

bFGF-grafted electrospun fibrous scaffolds via poly(dopamine) for skin wound healing

Electrospun fibrous membranes coated with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are effective medical devices to promote wound healing. However, the current strategies of adding bFGF generally cause degradation of electrospun materials or damage to the bioactivity of the biomolecules. Here, we have developed a simple strategy for surface bFGF-functionalization of electrospun fibers in an aqueous solution, which maintained original fiber properties and growth factor bioactivity. Polydopamine (PDA) forming the mussel foot protein was chosen as an adhesive polymeric bridge-layer between substrate poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) fibers and bFGF. The bFGF-grafted PDA was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Improved hydrophilicity together with a stable fibrous structure and biodegradable fibrous matrix suggested that the PLGA/PDA-bFGF electrospun fibrous scaffolds have great potential for promoting wound healing. In vitro experiments showed that the bFGF-grafted PLGA electrospun fibrous scaffolds have highly enhanced adhesion, viability, and proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts. In vivo results showed that such scaffolds shortened wound healing time, accelerated epithelialization and promoted skin remodeling. Therefore, this PDA modification method can be a useful tool to graft biomolecules onto polymeric electrospun fibrous scaffolds which are potential scaffold candidates for repairing skin tissue.

Highly porous drug-eluting structures: from wound dressings to stents and scaffolds for tissue regeneration

For many biomedical applications, there is need for porous implant materials. The current article focuses on a method for preparation of drug-eluting porous structures for various biomedical applications, based on freeze drying of inverted emulsions. This fabrication process enables the incorporation of any drug, to obtain an "active implant" that releases drugs to the surrounding tissue in a controlled desired manner. Examples for porous implants based on this technique are antibiotic-eluting mesh/matrix structures used for wound healing applications, antiproliferative drug-eluting composite fibers for stent applications and local cancer treatment, and protein-eluting films for tissue regeneration applications. In the current review we focus on these systems. We show that the release profiles of both types of drugs, water-soluble and water-insoluble, are affected by the emulsion's formulation parameters. The former's release profile is affected mainly through the emulsion stability and the resulting porous microstructure, whereas the latter's release mechanism occurs via water uptake and degradation of the host polymer. Hence, appropriate selection of the formulation parameters enables to obtain desired controllable release profile of any bioactive agent, water-soluble or water-insoluble, and also fit its physical properties to the application.

Tunable drug-loading capability of chitosan hydrogels with varied network architectures

Advanced bioactive systems with defined macroscopic properties and spatio-temporal sequestration of extracellular biomacromolecules are highly desirable for next generation therapeutics. Here, chitosan (CT) hydrogels were prepared with neutral or negatively charged cross-linkers in order to promote selective electrostatic complexation with charged drugs. CT was functionalized with varied dicarboxylic acids, such as tartaric acid, poly(ethylene glycol) bis(carboxymethyl) ether, 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid and 5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt (PhS), whereby PhS was hypothesized to act as a simple mimetic of heparin. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the presence of CO amide I, N-H amide II and CO ester bands, providing evidence of covalent network formation. The cross-linker content was reversely quantified by proton nuclear magnetic resonance on partially degraded network oligomers, so that 18 mol.% PhS was exemplarily determined. Swellability (SR: 299 ± 65-1054 ± 121 wt.%), compressibility (E: 2.1 ± 0.9-9.2 ± 2.3 kPa), material morphology and drug-loading capability were successfully adjusted based on the selected network architecture. Here, hydrogel incubation with model drugs of varied electrostatic charge, i.e. allura red (AR, doubly negatively charged), methyl orange (MO, negatively charged) or methylene blue (MB, positively charged), resulted in direct hydrogel-dye electrostatic complexation. Importantly, the cationic compound, MB, showed different incorporation behaviours, depending on the electrostatic character of the selected cross-linker. In light of this tunable drug-loading capability, these CT hydrogels would be highly attractive as drug reservoirs towards e.g. the fabrication of tissue models in vitro.

Tunable delivery of siRNA from a biodegradable scaffold to promote angiogenesis in vivo

A system has been engineered for temporally controlled delivery of siRNA from biodegradable tissue regenerative scaffolds. Therapeutic application of this approach to silence prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 promoted expression of pro-angiogenic genes controlled by HIF1α and enhanced scaffold vascularization in vivo. This technology provides a new standard for efficient and controllable gene silencing to modulate host response within regenerative biomaterials.

Gelatin-modified polyurethanes for soft tissue scaffold

Recently, in the field of biomaterials for soft tissue scaffolds, the interest of their modification with natural polymersis growing. Synthetic polymers are often tough, and many of them do not possess fine biocompatibility. On the other hand, natural polymers are biocompatible but weak when used alone. The combination of natural and synthetic polymers gives the suitable properties for tissue engineering requirements. In our study, we modified gelatin synthetic polyurethanes prepared from polyester poly(ethylene-butylene adipate) (PEBA), aliphatic 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and two different chain extenders 1,4-butanediol (BDO) or 1-ethoxy-2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethanol (EHEE). From a chemical point of view, we replaced expensive components for building PU, such as 2,6-diisocyanato methyl caproate (LDI) and 1,4-diisocyanatobutane (BDI), with cost-effective HDI. The gelatin was added in situ (in the first step of synthesis) to polyurethane to increase biocompatibility and biodegradability of the obtained material. It appeared that the obtained gelatin-modified PU foams, in which chain extender was BDO, had enhanced interactions with media and their hydrolytic degradation profile was also improved for tissue engineering application. Furthermore, the gelatin introduction had positive impact on gelatin-modified PU foams by increasing their hemocompatibility.

Functionalization of electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffold with heparin and vascular endothelial growth factors for potential application as vascular grafts

In this study, a heparin-conjugated poly(ε-caprolactone) electrospun fiber was constructed to develop a functional scaffold for controlled release of vascular endothelial growth factors. The immobilization of vascular endothelial growth factor was achieved through affinity binding between heparin and vascular endothelial growth factor molecules. The sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor from the scaffold was followed for up to 15 days. The endothelial cell adhesion and proliferation assay demonstrated that immobilized vascular endothelial growth factor maintained its activity. The blood compatibility of the scaffold was evaluated by activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet adhesion test, and arteriovenous shunt, and the functionalized scaffold showed improved anticoagulation properties. The biocompatibility was evaluated by subcutaneous implantation. Results showed that this vascular endothelial growth factor–releasing scaffold stimulated neovascularization with minimum immunological rejection compared to the unmodified poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffold. The present study demonstrated a new strategy of building bioactive scaffolds for the development of small-diameter vascular graft.

Biodegradable photo-crosslinked alginate nanofibre scaffolds with tuneable physical properties, cell adhesivity and growth factor release

Nanofibrous scaffolds are of interest in tissue engineering due to their high surface area to volume ratio, interconnected pores, and architectural similarity to the native extracellular matrix. Our laboratory recently developed a biodegradable, photo-crosslinkable alginate biopolymer. Here, we show the capacity of the material to be electrospun into a nanofibrous matrix, and the ability to enhance cell adhesion and proliferation on these matrices by covalent modification with cell adhesion peptides. Additionally, the potential of covalently incorporating heparin into the hydrogels during the photopolymerisation process to sustain the release of a heparin binding growth factor via affinity interactions was demonstrated. Electrospun photo-crosslinkable alginate nanofibrous scaffolds endowed with cell adhesion ligands and controlled delivery of growth factors may allow for improved regulation of cell behaviour for regenerative medicine.

Biomolecule gradient in micropatterned nanofibrous scaffold for spatiotemporal release

Controlled molecule release from scaffolds can dramatically increase the scaffold ability of directing tissue regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Crucial to the regeneration is precise regulation over release direction and kinetics of multiple molecules (small genes, peptides, or larger proteins). To this end, we developed gradient micropatterns of electrospun nanofibers along the scaffold thickness through programming the deposition of heterogeneous nanofibers of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) acid (PLGA). Confocal images of the scaffolds containing fluorophore-impregnated nanofibers demonstrated close matching of actual and designed gradient fiber patterns; thermal analyses further showed their matching in the composition. Using acid-terminated PLGA (PLGAac) and ester-terminated PLGA (PLGAes) to impregnate molecules in the PCL-PLGA scaffolds, we demonstrated for the first time their differences in nanofiber degeneration and molecular weight change during degradation. PLGAac nanofibers were more stable with gradual and steady increase in the fiber diameter during degradation, resulting in more spatially confined molecule delivery from PCL-PLGA scaffolds. Thus, patterns of PCL-PLGAac nanofibers were used to design versatile controlled delivery scaffolds. To test the hypothesis that molecule-impregnated PLGAac in the gradient-patterned PCL-PLGAac scaffolds can program various modalities of molecule release, model molecules, including small fluorophores and larger proteins, were respectively used for time-lapse release studies. Gradient-patterns were used as building blocks in the scaffolds to program simultaneous release of one or multiple proteins to one side or, respectively, to the opposite sides of scaffolds for up to 50 days. Results showed that the separation efficiency of molecule delivery from all the scaffolds with a thickness of 200 μm achieved >88% for proteins and >82% for small molecules. In addition to versatile spatially controlled delivery, micropatterns were designed to program sequential release of proteins. The hierarchically structured materials presented here may enable development of novel multifunctional scaffolds with defined 3D dynamic microenvironments for tissue regeneration.

Creating 3D angiogenic growth factor gradients in fibrous constructs to guide fast angiogenesis

Fast angiogenesis in 3D fibrous constructs that mimic the morphology of the extracellular matrix remains challenging due to limited porosity in the densely packed constructs. We investigated whether mimicking the in vivo chemotaxis microenvironment for native blood vessel formation would stimulate angiogenesis in the fibrous constructs. The chemotaxis microenvironment was created by introducing 3D angiogenic growth factor gradients into the constructs. We have developed a technique that can quickly fabricate (∼40 min) such 3D gradients by simultaneously electrospinning polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers, encapsulating gradient amount of bFGF (stabilized by heparin) into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres, and electrospraying the microspheres into PCL fibers. Gradient formation was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. Gradients with different steepnesses were obtained by modulating the initial concentration of the bFGF solution. All of the constructs were able to sustainedly release bioactive bFGF over a 28 day period. The release kinetics was dependent on the bFGF loading and steepness of the gradient. In vitro cell migration study demonstrated that bFGF gradients significantly increased the depth of cell migration. To assess the efficacy of bFGF gradients in inducing angiogenesis, we implanted constructs subcutaneously using mouse model. bFGF gradients significantly promoted cell penetration into the constructs. After 10 days of implantation, a high density of mature blood vessels (positive to both CD31 and α-SMA) were formed in the constructs. Vessel density was increased with the increase in steepness of the bFGF gradient. These gradient constructs may have potential to engineer vascularized tissues for various applications.

Biocompatibility and biodegradability of implantable drug delivery matrices based on novel poly(decane-co-tricarballylate) photocured elastomers

Visible light photo-cross-linked biodegradable amorphous elastomers based on poly(decane- co-tricarballylate) (PDET) with different cross-linking densities were synthesized, and their cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability were reported. Cytotoxicity of PDET extracts of the elastomers was assessed for mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT assay) and inhibition of [3H] thymidine incorporation into DNA of epithelial cells. The in vivo biocompatibility and biodegradability were determined by subcutaneous implantation of PDET microcylinders in 25 male Sprague–Dawley rats over a period of 12 weeks. The in vivo changes in physical and mechanical parameters of the implants were compared with those observed in vitro. The treated epithelial cells revealed no signs of cytotoxicity, and the elastomer degradation products caused only a slight stimulation to both mitochondrial activity and DNA replication. The implants did not exhibit any macroscopic signs of inflammation or adverse tissue reactions at implant retrieval sites. The retrieved implanted microcylinders maintained their original geometry and extensibility in a manner similar to those observed in vitro. These new elastomers have excellent biocompatibility and are considered promising biomaterials for controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.

Emerging technologies for enabling proangiogenic therapy

Ischemic disease causes a large number of deaths and significant clinical problems worldwide. Therapeutic angiogenesis, strengthened by advances in growth-factor-based therapies, is a promising solution to ischemic pathologies. Major challenges in therapeutic angiogenesis are the lack of stability of native angiogenic proteins and also providing sustained delivery of biologically active proteins at the ischemic sites. This paper will discuss various protein engineering strategies to develop stabilized proangiogenic proteins and several biomaterial technologies used to amplify the angiogenic outcome by delivering biologically active growth factors in a sustained manner.