In vitro antibacterial capacity and cytocompatibility of SiO2-CaO-P2O5 meso-macroporous glass scaffolds enriched with ZnO

An Antibacterial Bionic Periosteum with Angiogenesis-Neurogenesis Coupling Effect for Bone Regeneration

The periosteum, rich in neurovascular networks, bone progenitor cells, and stem cells, is vital for bone repair. Current artificial periosteal materials face challenges in mechanical strength, bacterial infection, and promoting osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis. To address these issues, we adjusted the electrospinning ratio of poly-ε-caprolactone and chitosan and incorporated Zn doping whitlockite with polydopamine coating into a nanofiber membrane. After a series of characterizations, optimal results were achieved with a poly-ε-caprolactone: chitosan ratio of 8:1 and 5% nanoparticle content. In vitro cell experiments and in vivo calvarial defect models, the sustained release of Mg2+ and Ca2+ promoted vascularization and new bone formation, respectively, while the release of Zn2+ was conducive to antibacterial and cooperated with Mg2+ to promote neurovascularization. Consequently, this antibacterial bionic periosteum with an angiogenesis-neurogenesis coupling effect demonstrates a promising potential for bone repair applications.

Antimicrobial and Biodegradable 3D Printed Scaffolds for Orthopedic Infections

In bone tissue engineering, the performance of scaffolds underpins the success of the healing of bone. Microbial infection is the most challenging issue for orthopedists. The application of scaffolds for healing bone defects is prone to microbial infection. To address this challenge, scaffolds with a desirable shape and significant mechanical, physical, and biological characteristics are crucial. 3D printing of antibacterial scaffolds with suitable mechanical strength and excellent biocompatibility is an appealing strategy to surmount issues of microbial infection. The spectacular progress in developing antimicrobial scaffolds, along with beneficial mechanical and biological properties, has sparked further research for possible clinical applications. Herein, the significance of antibacterial scaffolds designed by 3D, 4D, and 5D printing technologies for bone tissue engineering is critically investigated. Materials such as antibiotics, polymers, peptides, graphene, metals/ceramics/glass, and antibacterial coatings are used to impart the antimicrobial features for the 3D scaffolds. Polymeric or metallic biodegradable and antibacterial 3D-printed scaffolds in orthopedics disclose exceptional mechanical and degradation behavior, biocompatibility, osteogenesis, and long-term antibacterial efficiency. The commercialization aspect of antibacterial 3D-printed scaffolds and technical challenges are also discussed briefly. Finally, the discussion on the unmet demands and prevailing challenges for ideal scaffold materials for fighting against bone infections is included along with a highlight of emerging strategies in this field.

Bioactive ZnO-assisted 1393 glass scaffold promotes osteogenic differentiation: Some studies

We developed ZnO-assisted 1393 bioactive glass-based scaffold with suitable mechanical properties through foam replica technique and observed to be suitable for bone tissue engineering application. However, the developed scaffolds' ability to facilitate cellular infiltration and integration was further assessed through in vivo studies in suitable animal model. Herein, the pure 1393 bioactive glass (BG) and ZnO-assisted 1393 bioactive glass- (ZnBGs; 1, 2, 4 mol% ZnO substitution for SiO₂ in pure BG is named as Z1BG, Z2BG, Z3BG, respectively) based scaffolds were prepared through sol-gel route, followed by foam replica techniques and characterized by a series of in vitro and some in vivo tests. Different cell lines like normal mouse embryonic cells (NIH/3T3), mouse bone marrow stromal cells (mBMSc), peripheral blood mononuclear cells, that is, lymphocytes and monocytes (PBMC) and U2OS (carcinogenic human osteosarcoma cells) were used in determination and comparative analysis of the biological compatibility of the BG and ZnBGs. Also, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and osteogenic gene expression by primer-specific osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) genes were performed to study osteogenic differentiability of the stromal cells in different BGs. Moreover, radiological and histopathological tests were performed in bone defect model of Wister rats to evaluate the in vivo bone regeneration and healing. Interestingly, these studies demonstrate augmented biological compatibility, and superior osteogenic differentiation in ZnBGs, in particular Z3BG than the pure BG in most cases.

Bioceramics in Endodontics: Updates and Future Perspectives

Bioceramics, with excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility, have been widely used in dentistry, particularly in endodontics. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is the most widely used bioceramic in endodontics. Recently, many new bioceramics have been developed, showing good potential for the treatment of endodontic diseases. This paper reviews the characteristics of bioceramics and their applications in various clinical endodontic situations, including root-end filling, root canal therapy, vital pulp therapy, apexification/regenerative endodontic treatment, perforation repair, and root defect repair. Relevant literature published from 1993 to 2023 was searched by keywords in PubMed and Web of Science. Current evidence supports the predictable outcome of MTA in the treatment of endodontic diseases. Although novel bioceramics such as Biodentine, EndoSequence, and calcium-enriched mixtures have shown promising clinical outcomes, more well-controlled clinical trials are still needed to provide high-level evidence for their application in endodontics. In addition, to better tackle the clinical challenges in endodontics, efforts are needed to improve the bioactivity of bioceramics, particularly to enhance their antimicrobial activity and mechanical properties and reduce their setting time and solubility.

A Review on Manufacturing Processes of Biocomposites Based on Poly(α-Esters) and Bioactive Glass Fillers for Bone Regeneration

The incorporation of bioactive and biocompatible fillers improve the bone cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation, thus facilitating new bone tissue formation upon implantation. During these last 20 years, those biocomposites have been explored for making complex geometry devices likes screws or 3D porous scaffolds for the repair of bone defects. This review provides an overview of the current development of manufacturing process with synthetic biodegradable poly(α-ester)s reinforced with bioactive fillers for bone tissue engineering applications. Firstly, the properties of poly(α-ester), bioactive fillers, as well as their composites will be defined. Then, the different works based on these biocomposites will be classified according to their manufacturing process. New processing techniques, particularly additive manufacturing processes, open up a new range of possibilities. These techniques have shown the possibility to customize bone implants for each patient and even create scaffolds with a complex structure similar to bone. At the end of this manuscript, a contextualization exercise will be performed to identify the main issues of process/resorbable biocomposites combination identified in the literature and especially for resorbable load-bearing applications.

Bioceramic-based scaffolds with antibacterial function for bone tissue engineering: A review

Bone defects caused by trauma, tumor, congenital abnormality and osteoarthritis, etc. have been substantially impacted the lives and health of human. Artificial bone implants, like bioceramic-based scaffolds, provide significant benefits over biological counterparts and are critical for bone repair and regeneration. However, it is highly probable that bacterial infections occur in the surgical procedures or on bioceramic-based scaffolds. Therefore, it is of great significance to obtain bioceramic-based scaffolds with integrative antibacterial and osteogenic functions for treating bone implant-associated infection and promoting bone repair. To fight against infection problems, bioceramic-based scaffolds with various antibacterial strategies are developed for bone repair and regeneration and also have made great progresses. This review summarizes recent progresses in bioceramic-based scaffolds with antibacterial function, which include drug-induced, ion-mediated, physical-activated and their combined antibacterial strategies according to specific antibacterial mechanism. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of antibacterial bioceramic-based scaffolds are discussed.

•

Bioceramic-based scaffolds with antibacterial function (BSAF) are reviewed.

•

BSAF have a great potential in treating bone infection and promoting bone repair.

•

Antibacterial strategies of BSAF include drug, ion, physical and combined ways.

•

The combined strategy may be the optimal approach in fighting bone infection.

•

Limitations, challenges and perspectives of BSAF are discussed.

Scaffolds in the microbial resistant era: Fabrication, materials, properties and tissue engineering applications

Due to microbial infections dramatically affect cell survival and increase the risk of implant failure, scaffolds produced with antimicrobial materials are now much more likely to be successful. Multidrug-resistant infections without suitable prevention strategies are increasing at an alarming rate. The ability of cells to organize, develop, differentiate, produce a functioning extracellular matrix (ECM) and create new functional tissue can all be controlled by careful control of the extracellular microenvironment. This review covers the present state of advanced strategies to develop scaffolds with antimicrobial properties for bone, oral tissue, skin, muscle, nerve, trachea, cardiac and other tissue engineering applications. The review focuses on the development of antimicrobial scaffolds against bacteria and fungi using a wide range of materials, including polymers, biopolymers, glass, ceramics and antimicrobials agents such as antibiotics, antiseptics, antimicrobial polymers, peptides, metals, carbon nanomaterials, combinatorial strategies, and includes discussions on the antimicrobial mechanisms involved in these antimicrobial approaches. The toxicological aspects of these advanced scaffolds are also analyzed to ensure future technological transfer to clinics. The main antimicrobial methods of characterizing scaffolds’ antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties are described. The production methods of these porous supports, such as electrospinning, phase separation, gas foaming, the porogen method, polymerization in solution, fiber mesh coating, self-assembly, membrane lamination, freeze drying, 3D printing and bioprinting, among others, are also included in this article. These important advances in antimicrobial materials-based scaffolds for regenerative medicine offer many new promising avenues to the material design and tissue-engineering communities.

•

Antibacterial, antifungal and antibiofilm scaffolds.

•

Antimicrobial scaffold fabrication techniques.

•

Antimicrobial biomaterials for tissue engineering applications.

•

Antimicrobial characterization methods of scaffolds.

•

Bone, oral tissue, skin, muscle, nerve, trachea, cardiac, among other applications.

Antibiofilm Activity of Biocide Metal Ions Containing Bioactive Glasses (BGs): A Mini Review

One of the major clinical issues during the implantation procedure is the bacterial infections linked to biofilms. Due to their tissue localization and the type of bacteria involved, bacterial infections at implant sites are usually difficult to treat, which increases patient morbidity and even mortality. The difficulty of treating biofilm-associated infections and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria are further challenges for the scientific community to develop novel biomaterials with excellent biocompatibility and antibacterial properties. Given their ability to stimulate bone formation and have antibacterial properties, metal ion-doped bioactive glasses (BGs) have received considerable research. This mini review aims to be successful in presenting the developments made about the role of biocide metal ions incorporated into BGs against the development of bacterial biofilms and the spread of nosocomial diseases.

Mesoporous Bioglasses Enriched with Bioactive Agents for Bone Repair, with a Special Highlight of María Vallet-Regí’s Contribution

Throughout her impressive scientific career, Prof. María Vallet-Regí opened various research lines aimed at designing new bioceramics, including mesoporous bioactive glasses for bone tissue engineering applications. These bioactive glasses can be considered a spin-off of silica mesoporous materials because they are designed with a similar technical approach. Mesoporous glasses in addition to SiO₂ contain significant amounts of other oxides, particularly CaO and P₂O₅ and therefore, they exhibit quite different properties and clinical applications than mesoporous silica compounds. Both materials exhibit ordered mesoporous structures with a very narrow pore size distribution that are achieved by using surfactants during their synthesis. The characteristics of mesoporous glasses made them suitable to be enriched with various osteogenic agents, namely inorganic ions and biopeptides as well as mesenchymal cells. In the present review, we summarize the evolution of mesoporous bioactive glasses research for bone repair, with a special highlight on the impact of Prof. María Vallet-Regí´s contribution to the field.

Biocompatibility and Electrical Stimulation of Skeletal and Smooth Muscle Cells Cultured on Piezoelectric Nanogenerators

Nanogenerators are interesting for biomedical applications, with a great potential for electrical stimulation of excitable cells. Piezoelectric ZnO nanosheets present unique properties for tissue engineering. In this study, nanogenerator arrays based on ZnO nanosheets are fabricated on transparent coverslips to analyse the biocompatibility and the electromechanical interaction with two types of muscle cells, smooth and skeletal. Both cell types adhere, proliferate and differentiate on the ZnO nanogenerators. Interestingly, the amount of Zn ions released over time from the nanogenerators does not interfere with cell viability and does not trigger the associated inflammatory response, which is not triggered by the nanogenerators themselves either. The local electric field generated by the electromechanical nanogenerator–cell interaction stimulates smooth muscle cells by increasing cytosolic calcium ions, whereas no stimulation effect is observed on skeletal muscle cells. The random orientation of the ZnO nanogenerators, avoiding an overall action potential aligned along the muscle fibre, is hypothesised to be the cause of the cell-type dependent response. This demonstrates the need of optimizing the nanogenerator morphology, orientation and distribution according to the potential biomedical use. Thus, this study demonstrates the cell-scale stimulation triggered by biocompatible piezoelectric nanogenerators without using an external source on smooth muscle cells, although it remarks the cell type-dependent response.

Design of 3D Scaffolds for Hard Tissue Engineering: From Apatites to Silicon Mesoporous Materials

Advanced bioceramics for bone regeneration constitutes one of the pivotal interests in the multidisciplinary and far-sighted scientific trajectory of Prof. Vallet Regí. The different pathologies that affect osseous tissue substitution are considered to be one of the most important challenges from the health, social and economic point of view. 3D scaffolds based on bioceramics that mimic the composition, environment, microstructure and pore architecture of hard tissues is a consolidated response to such concerns. This review describes not only the different types of materials utilized: from apatite-type to silicon mesoporous materials, but also the fabrication techniques employed to design and adequate microstructure, a hierarchical porosity (from nano to macro scale), a cell-friendly surface; the inclusion of different type of biomolecules, drugs or cells within these scaffolds and the influence on their successful performance is thoughtfully reviewed.

Zinc Chloride: Time-Dependent Cytotoxicity, Proliferation and Promotion of Glycoprotein Synthesis and Antioxidant Gene Expression in Human Keratinocytes

Simple Summary

Zinc ions are involved in the biology of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis by regulating many biological molecules, such as transcription factors, enzymes and growth factors. In this study, the time-dependent cytotoxicity, cell proliferation and gene expression in human keratinocytes HaCaT cells were evaluated when exposed to ZnCl₂. The results of this study showed non-cytotoxic effects up to 10 µg/mL after 24 h, no significant effect on cell proliferation when exposed to 5 or 1 µg/mL ZnCl₂ at 72 h and upregulation of eight genes, with great potential in the biomedical field, particularly for regenerative-medicine applications and wound healing.

Abstract

The use of ionic metals such as zinc (Zn²⁺) is providing promising results in regenerative medicine. In this study, human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were treated with different concentrations of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), ranging from 1 to 800 µg/mL, for 3, 12 and 24 h. The results showed a time–concentration dependence with three non-cytotoxic concentrations (10, 5 and 1 µg/mL) and a median effective concentration value of 13.5 µg/mL at a cell exposure to ZnCl₂ of 24 h. However, the zinc treatment with 5 or 1 µg/mL had no effect on cell proliferation in HaCaT cells in relation to the control sample at 72 h. The effects of the Zn²⁺ treatment on the expression of several genes related to glycoprotein synthesis, oxidative stress, proliferation and differentiation were assessed at the two lowest non-cytotoxic concentrations after 24 h of treatment. Out of 13 analyzed genes (superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase (CAT), matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), fibronectin 1 (FN1), hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2), laminin subunit beta 1 (LAMB1), lumican (LUM), cadherin 1 (CDH1), collagen type IV alpha (COL4A1), fibrillin (FBN) and versican (VCAN)), Zn²⁺ was able to upregulate SOD1, CAT, TGFB1, GPX1, LUM, CDH1, FBN and VCAN, with relative expression levels of at least 1.9-fold with respect to controls. We found that ZnCl₂ promoted glycoprotein synthesis and antioxidant gene expression, thus confirming its great potential in biomedicine.

Bioactive glass: A multifunctional delivery system

Bioactive glasses (BAGs) were invented five decades ago and have been widely used clinically in orthopedic and stomatology. However, in the past two decades, BAGs have been explored immensely by several researchers worldwide as a multifunctional delivery system for a multitude of therapeutics ranging from metal ions to small molecules (e.g., drugs) and macromolecules (e.g., DNA). The impetus for devising a BAG-based delivery system in the 21st century is based upon the facilitative properties it offers for entrapment of a wide range of therapeutic molecules and the tailorable controlled release kinetics to the target tissue site along with the biological activity of the ionic dissolution products in several pathological conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, infection, and inflammation. This review comprises two parts: the first part discusses the need for a new delivery system and how the journey from melt quench progressed towards template-based sol-gel mesoporous. In the second part, we have comprehended the scientific advancements made so far, emphasizing BAGs as a delivery system ranging from therapeutic ions to phytopharmaceuticals. We have also highlighted a few loopholes that have prevented bench-to-bedside clinical translation of a plethora of elucidative researches done so far.

Mesoporous bioactive glasses for regenerative medicine

Stem cells are the central element of regenerative medicine (RM). However, in many clinical applications, the use of scaffolds fabricated with biomaterials is required. In this sense, mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) are going to play an important role in bone regeneration because of their striking textural properties, quick bioactive response, and biocompatibility. As other bioactive glasses, MBGs are mainly formed by silicon, calcium, and phosphorus oxides whose ions play an important role in cell proliferation as well as in homeostasis and bone remodeling process. A common improvement of bioactive glasses for RM is by adding small amounts of oxides of elements that confer them additional biological capacities, including osteogenic, angiogenic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, or anticancer properties. Moreover, MBGs are versatile in terms of the different ways in which they can be processed, such as scaffolds, fibers, coatings, or nanoparticles. MBGs are unique because their textural properties are so high that they still exhibit outstanding bioactive responses even after adding extra inorganic ions or being processed as scaffolds or nanoparticles. Moreover, they can be further improved by loading with biomolecules, drugs, and stem cells. This article reviews the state of the art and future perspectives of MBGs in the field of RM of hard tissues.

Role of Zinc-Doped Bioactive Glass Encapsulated with Microspherical Gelatin in Localized Supplementation for Tissue Regeneration: A Contemporary Review

Gelatin, a natural polymer, provides excellent tissue compatibility for use in tissue rehabilitation. Bioactive glasses (BAG) offer superior capacity in stimulating a bioactive response but show high variability in uptake and solubility. To tackle these drawbacks, a combination of gelatin with BAG is proposed to form composites, which then offer a synergistic response. The cross-linked gelatin structure's mechanical properties are enhanced by the incorporation of the inorganic BAG, and the rate of BAG ionic supplementation responsible for bioactivity and regenerative potential is better controlled by a protective gelatin layer. Several studies have demonstrated the cellular benefits of these composites in different forms of functional modification such as doping with zinc or incorporation of zinc such as ions directly into the BAG matrix. This review presents a comprehensive perspective on the individual characteristics of BAG and gelatin, including the synthesis and mechanism of action. Further, adaptation of the composite into various applications for bone tissue engineering is discussed and future challenges are highlighted.

A facile synthesis of mono dispersed spherical silver doped bioactive glass nanoparticle

Bioactive glasses have attracted enormous attention in the field of biomaterials for dental and medical applications. Incorporation of antibacterial ions within BGs has been proved to be a promising approach to fortify their bactericidal character. In this study, homogenous BGs containing silver (Ag) ions were synthesized by sol-gel method. Subsequently, the presence of the embedded ions were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental analysis and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Moreover, released ions were measured in simulated body fluid (SBF) and their antibacterial effectiveness was further verified using minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests. A crystalline hydroxyapatite layer was formed on the Ag-BG surfaces at day 5 approved by X-ray diffraction indicating the preserved bioactivity. The resultant uniform, mono-dispersed and dense nanoparticles show 19 great potential for a range of orthopedic and dental applications.

The use of bioactive glass (BAG) in dental composites: A critical review

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, numerous studies have analyzed the role of bioactive glass (BAG) as remineralizing additives in dental restorative composites. This current review provides a critical analysis of the existing literature, particularly focusing on BAGs prepared via the melt-quench route that form an "apatite-like" phase when immersed in physiological-like solutions.

METHODS

Online databases (Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar) were used to collect data published from 1962 to 2020. The research papers were analyzed and the relevant papers were selected for this review. Sol-gel BAGs were not included in this review since it is not a cost-effective manufacturing technique that can be upscaled and is difficult to incorporate fluoride.

RESULTS

BAGs release Ca²⁺, PO₄^3- and F^- ions, raise the pH and form apatite. There are numerous published papers on the bioactivity of BAGs, but the different glass compositions, volume fractions, particle sizes, immersion media, time points, and the characterization techniques used, make comparison difficult. Several papers only use certain characterization techniques that do not provide a full picture of the behavior of the glass. It was noted that in most studies, mechanical properties were measured on dry samples, which does not replicate the conditions in the oral environment. Therefore, it is recommended that samples should be immersed for longer time periods in physiological solutions to mimic clinical environments.

SIGNIFICANCE

BAGs present major benefits in dentistry, especially their capacity to form apatite, which could potentially fill any marginal gaps produced due to polymerization shrinkage.

Strontium-Modified Scaffolds Based on Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses/Polyvinyl Alcohol Composites for Bone Regeneration

In the search of a new biomaterial for the treatment of bone defects resulting from traumatic events, an osteoporosis scenario with bone fractures, tumor removal, congenital pathologies or implant revisions for infection, we developed 3D scaffolds based on mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) (85 − x)SiO₂–5P₂O₅–10CaO–xSrO (x = 0, 2.5 and 5 mol.%). The scaffolds with meso-macroporosity were fabricated by pouring a suspension of MBG powders in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) into a negative template of polylactic acid (PLA), followed by removal of the template by extraction at low temperature. SrO-containing MBGs exhibited excellent properties for bone substitution including ordered mesoporous structure, high textural properties, quick in vitro bioactive response in simulated body fluid (SBF) and the ability of releasing concentrations of strontium ions able to stimulate expression of early markers of osteoblastic differentiation. Moreover, the direct contact of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cells with the scaffolds confirmed the cytocompatibility of the three compositions investigated. Nevertheless, the scaffold containing 2.5% of SrO induced the best cellular proliferation showing the potential of this scaffold as a candidate to be further investigated in vitro and in vivo, aiming to be clinically used for bone regeneration applications in non-load bearing sites.

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.

Multifunctional antibiotic- and zinc-containing mesoporous bioactive glass scaffolds to fight bone infection

Bone regeneration is a clinical challenge which requires multiple approaches. Sometimes, it also includes the development of osteogenic and antibacterial biomaterials to treat the emergence of possible infection processes arising from surgery. This study evaluates the antibacterial properties of gelatin-coated meso-macroporous scaffolds based on the bioactive glass 80%SiO₂-15%CaO-5%P₂O₅ (mol-%) before (BL-GE) and after being doped with 4% of ZnO (4ZN-GE) and loaded with both saturated and the minimal inhibitory concentrations of one of the antibiotics: levofloxacin (LEVO), vancomycin (VANCO), rifampicin (RIFAM) or gentamicin (GENTA). After physical-chemical characterization of materials, release studies of inorganic ions and antibiotics from the scaffolds were carried out. Moreover, molecular modelling allowed determining the electrostatic potential density maps and the hydrogen bonds of antibiotics and the glass matrix. Antibacterial in vitro studies (in planktonic, inhibition halos and biofilm destruction) with S. aureus and E. coli as bacteria models showed a synergistic effect of zinc ions and antibiotics. The effect was especially noticeable in planktonic cultures of S. aureus with 4ZN-GE scaffolds loaded with VANCO, LEVO or RIFAM and in E. coli cultures with LEVO or GENTA. Moreover, S. aureus biofilms were completely destroyed by 4ZN-GE scaffolds loaded with VANCO, LEVO or RIFAM and the E. coli biofilm total destruction was accomplished with 4ZN-GE scaffolds loaded with GENTA or LEVO. This approach could be an important step in the fight against microbial resistance and provide needed options for bone infection treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Antibacterial capabilities of scaffolds based on mesoporous bioactive glasses before and after adding a 4% ZnO and loading with saturated and minimal inhibitory concentrations of levofloxacin, vancomycin, gentamicin or rifampicin were evaluated. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the infection model strains for the performed assays of inhibition zone, planktonic growth and biofilm. Good inhibition results and a synergistic effect of zinc ions released from scaffolds and antibiotics were observed. Thus, the amount of antibiotic required to inhibit the bacterial planktonic growth was substantially reduced with the ZnO inclusion in the scaffold. This study shows that the ZnO-MBG osteogenic scaffolds are multifunctional tools in bone tissue engineering because they are able to fight bacterial infections with lower antibiotic dosage.

Biomaterials against Bone Infection

Chronic bone infection is considered as one of the most problematic biofilm-related infections. Its recurrent and resistant nature, high morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and costly medical care expenses have driven the efforts of the scientific community to develop new therapies to improve the standards used today. There is great debate on the management of this kind of infection in order to establish consistent and agreed guidelines in national health systems. The scientific research is oriented toward the design of anti-infective biomaterials both for prevention and cure. The properties of these materials must be adapted to achieve better anti-infective performance and good compatibility, which allow a good integration of the implant with the surrounding tissue. The objective of this review is to study in-depth the antibacterial biomaterials and the strategies underlying them. In this sense, this manuscript focuses on antimicrobial coatings, including the new technological advances on surface modification; scaffolding design including multifunctional scaffolds with both antimicrobial and bone regeneration properties; and nanocarriers based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles with advanced properties (targeting and stimuli-response capabilities).

Multifunctional zinc ion doped sol - gel derived mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Mesoporous bioactive glasses have been widely investigated for applications in bone tissue regeneration and, more recently, in soft tissue repair and wound healing. In this study we produced mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) based on the SiO2-CaO system. With the intention of adding subsidiary biological function, MBGNs were doped with Zn2+ ions. Zn-MBGNs with 8 mol% ZnO content were synthesized via microemulsion assisted sol-gel method. The synthesized particles were homogeneous in shape and size. They exhibited spherical shape, good dispersity, and a size of 130 ± 10 nm. The addition of zinc precursors did not affect the morphology of particles, while their specific surface area increased in comparison to MBGNs. The presence of Zn2+ ions inhibited the formation of hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCAp) on the particles after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). No formation of HCAp crystals on the surface of Zn-MBGNs could be observed after 14 days of immersion. Interestingly, powders containing relatively high amount of zinc released Zn2+ ions in low concentration (0.6-1.2 mg L-1) but in a sustained manner. This releasing feature enables Zn-MBGNs to avoid potentially toxic levels of Zn2+ ions, indeed Zn-MBGNs were seen to improve the differentiation of osteoblast-like cells (MG-63). Additionally, Zn-MBGNs showed higher ability to adsorb proteins in comparison to MBGNs, which could indicate a favourable later attachment of cells. Due to their advantageous morphological and physiochemical properties, Zn-MBGNs show great potential as bioactive fillers or drug delivery systems in a variety of applications including bone regeneration and wound healing.

Cerium (III) and (IV) containing mesoporous glasses/alginate beads for bone regeneration: bioactivity, biocompatibility and reactive oxygen species activity

A very small number of biomaterials investigated for bone regeneration was reported as able to prevent the oxidative stress. In this study beads based on alginate hydrogel and mesoporous glasses (MG) containing different amounts of cerium oxides (Ce3+/Ce4+) exhibiting antioxidant properties were investigated as a good approach to mimic the action of antioxidant enzymes in our organism. The effect of cerium contents on the bioactivity and biocompatibility of beads were investigated. Moreover, the potential capability of Ce-containing MG to prevent the oxidative stress caused by the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was here investigated for the first time. The increment of cerium oxide from 1.2, to 3.6 and 5.3 mol-% decreases the surface area and porosity of MG and increases the catalase mimetic activity after 168 h. Swelling tests in different cell culture media (D- and α-MEM) demonstrated the rehydration capability of beads. The presence of beads with the highest Ce-contents (3.6 and 5.3 %) improved the proliferation of pre-osteoblastic cells MC3T3-Cl cells. However, the cell differentiation decreased when increased the cerium content. Lactate dehydrogenase assays showed beads are cytocompatible materials. Moreover, oxidative stress tests with H2O2 showed a better response related to cell viability and the elimination of oxidant species when increased cerium content. Beads of glasses with 1.2 and 3.6 % of CeO2 are excellent candidates as bioactive scaffolds for bone regeneration capable of counteract the oxidative stress.

Osteostatin potentiates the bioactivity of mesoporous glass scaffolds containing Zn2+ ions in human mesenchymal stem cells

There is an urgent need of biosynthetic bone grafts with enhanced osteogenic capacity. In this study, we describe the design of hierarchical meso-macroporous 3D-scaffolds based on mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs), enriched with the peptide osteostatin and Zn2+ ions, and their osteogenic effect on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) as a preclinical strategy in bone regeneration. The MBG compositions investigated were 80%SiO2-15%CaO-5%P2O5 (in mol-%) Blank (BL), and two analogous glasses containing 4% ZnO (4ZN) and 5% ZnO (5ZN). By using additive fabrication techniques, scaffolds exhibiting hierarchical porosity: mesopores (around 4 nm), macropores (1-600 μm) and big channels (∼1000 μm), were prepared. These MBG scaffolds with or without osteostatin were evaluated in hMCSs cultures. Zinc promoted hMSCs colonization (both the surface and inside) of MBG scaffolds. Moreover, Zn2+ ions and osteostatin together, but not independently, in the scaffolds were found to induce the osteoblast differentiation genes runt related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in hMSCs after 7 d of culture in the absence of an osteogenic differentiation-promoting medium. These results add credence to the combined use of zinc and osteostatin as an effective strategy for bone regeneration applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) are bioceramics whose unique properties make them excellent materials for bone tissue engineering. Physico-chemical characterization of MBGs as scaffolds made by rapid prototyping, doped with zinc (potential osteogenic, angiogenic and bactericidal ion) and loaded with osteostatin (osteogenic peptide) are described. These Zn-MBGs scaffolds showed 3D hierarchical meso-macroporous structure that enables to host and release osteostatin. When decorated with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), MBGs scaffoldsenriched with both zinc and osteostatin exhibited a synergistic effect to enhance hMSCs growth, and also hMSCs osteogenic differentiationwithout addition of other osteoblastic differentiation factors to the culture medium. This novel strategy has a great potential for use in bone tissue engineering.

Bioceramics: from bone substitutes to nanoparticles for drug delivery

Since the second half of the 20th century, bioceramics are used for bone repair and regeneration. Inspired by bones and teeth, and aimed at mimicking their structure and composition, several artificial bioceramics were developed for biomedical applications. And nowadays, in the 21st century, with the increasing prominence of nanoscience and nanotechnology, certain bioceramics are being used to build smart drug delivery systems, among other applications. This minireview will mainly describe both tendencies through the research work carried out by the research team of María Vallet-Regí.

Effects of zinc-bearing palygorskite on rumen fermentation in vitro

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of zinc-bearing palygorskite (Zn-Pal) on rumen fermentation by in vitro gas-production system.

METHODS

In trial, 90 incubators were evenly divided into five groups: control (0% Zn-Pal), treatment I (0.2% Zn-Pal), treatment II (0.4% Zn-Pal), treatment III (0.6% Zn-Pal), and treatment IV (0.8% Zn-Pal). The contents of zinc for treatments were 0, 49, 98, 147, 196 mg/kg, respectively. The main chemical composition and microstructure of Zn-Pal was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The physicochemical features were evaluated by Zeta potential analysis, cation-exchange capacity, ethylene blue absorption and specific surface area (the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method). In vitro gas production (GP) was recorded at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h incubation. Incubation was stopped at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h and the inoculants were tested for pH, microbial protein yield (MCP), NH3-N, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

RESULTS

The results showed that the GP in the treatment groups was not significantly different from the control groups (p>0.05). Compared to the control group, pH was higher at 24 h, 48 h (p<0.05), and 72 h (p<0.01) (range 6 to 7). The concentration of NH3-N in the three treatment groups was higher than in the control group at 24 h (p<0.01), meanwhile, it was lower at 48 h and 72 h (p<0.01), except in the treatment IV. The concentration of MCP in treatment I group was higher than in the control at 48 h (p<0.01). Compared with control, the LPS concentration in treatment III became lower at 12 h (p<0.05). Total VFAs in treatments were higher than in the control at 24 h, 48 h (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the addition of Zn-Pal can improve the rumen fermentation, especially when adding 0.2% Zn-Pal.

Mesoporous Silica Materials as Drug Delivery: "The Nightmare" of Bacterial Infection

Mesoporous silica materials (MSM) have a great surface area and a high pore volume, meaning that they consequently have a large loading capacity, and have been demonstrated to be unique candidates for the treatment of different pathologies, including bacterial infection. In this text, we review the multiple ways of action in which MSM can be used to fight bacterial infection, including early detection, drug release, targeting bacteria or biofilm, antifouling surfaces, and adjuvant capacity. This review focus mainly on those that act as a drug delivery system, and therefore that have an essential characteristic, which is their great loading capacity. Since MSM have advantages in all stages of combatting bacterial infection; its prevention, detection and finally in its treatment, we can venture to talk about them as the "nightmare of bacteria".

Mesoporous bioactive glasses: Promising platforms for antibacterial strategies

The control of bacterial infections is of particular importance in the field of tissue engineering. Recently, much attention has been addressed toward the use of mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) for antibacterial strategies, primarily because of their capability of acting as carriers for the local release of antimicrobial agents. The incorporation of antibacterial metallic ions including silver (Ag⁺), zinc (Zn²⁺), copper (Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺), cerium (Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺), and gallium (Ga³⁺) cations into the MBG structure and their controlled release is proposed as one of the most attractive strategies for inhibiting bacterial growth and reproduction. Moreover, the possibility of loading and delivering various antibacterial biomolecules (e.g., antibiotics) through the porous structure of MBGs makes them as ideal candidates for antibacterial applications. In this review, we aim to present a comprehensive evaluation of MBG potential regarding antibacterial activities. For this purpose, different types of antibacterial ion-doped and drug-loaded MBGs are introduced and discussed in the light of existing knowledge, along with the significant challenges ahead. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Prevention and treatment of infections is one of the today's greatest challenges in medical sciences, also considering the well-known issues related to increased bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The advent of mesoporous glasses led to the birth of a new class of multifunctional biomaterials acting as bioactive platforms for the local release of organic or inorganic agents eliciting an antimicrobial effect. This reviews summarizes the state of the art of MBGs in this field, highlighting the latest evolutions and the specific role played by metallic antimicrobial ions that can be incorporated in the glass composition and then properly released. Perspective for tissue engineering applications are also discussed to provide an up-to-date contribution that is useful to both experienced scientists and early-stage researchers.

Osteogenic Effect of ZnO-Mesoporous Glasses Loaded with Osteostatin

Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses (MBGs) are a family of bioceramics widely investigated for their putative clinical use as scaffolds for bone regeneration. Their outstanding textural properties allow for high bioactivity when compared with other bioactive materials. Moreover, their great pore volumes allow these glasses to be loaded with a wide range of biomolecules to stimulate new bone formation. In this study, an MBG with a composition, in mol%, of 80% SiO₂⁻15% CaO⁻5% P₂O₅ (Blank, BL) was compared with two analogous glasses containing 4% and 5% of ZnO (4ZN and 5ZN) before and after impregnation with osteostatin, a C-terminal peptide from a parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP107-111). Zn2+ ions were included in the glass for their bone growth stimulator properties, whereas osteostatin was added for its osteogenic properties. Glasses were characterized, and their cytocompatibility investigated, in pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell cultures. The simultaneous additions of osteostatin and Zn2+ ions provoked enhanced MC3T3-E1 cell viability and a higher differentiation capacity, compared with either raw BL or MBGs supplemented only with osteostatin or Zn2+. These in vitro results show that osteostatin enhances the osteogenic effect of Zn2+-enriched glasses, suggesting the potential of this combined approach in bone tissue engineering applications.

Highly-Bioreactive Silica-Based Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses Enriched with Gallium(III)

Beneficial effects in bone cell growth and antibacterial action are currently attributed to Ga3+ ions. Thus, they can be used to upgrade mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs), investigated for tissue engineering, whenever they released therapeutic amounts of gallium ions to the surrounding medium. Three gallium-enriched MBGs with composition (in mol %) xSiO₂-yCaO-zP₂O₅-5Ga₂O₃, being x = 70, y = 15, z = 10 for Ga_1; x = 80, y = 12, z = 3 for Ga_2; and x = 80, y = 15, z = 0 for Ga_3, were investigated and compared with the gallium-free 80SiO₂-15CaO-5P₂O₅ MBG (B). 29Si and 31P MAS NMR analyses indicated that Ga3+ acts as network modifier in the glass regions with higher polymerization degree and as network former in the zones with high concentration of classical modifiers (Ca2+ ions). Ga_1 and Ga_2 exhibited a quick in vitro bioactive response because they were coated by an apatite-like layer after 1 and 3 days in simulated body fluid. Although we have not conducted biological tests in this paper (cells or bacteria), Ga_1 released high but non-cytotoxic amounts of Ga3+ ions in Todd Hewitt Broth culture medium that were 140 times higher than the IC90 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, demonstrating its potential for tissue engineering applications.

Antibiotic delivery by nanobioceramics

The role of nanotechnology has evinced remarkable interest in the field of drug delivery. Bioceramics are inorganic biomaterials which are frequently used as bone substitutes. They have been explored in drug delivery as carriers for antibiotics, anti-osteoporotic drugs and anticancer drugs. Bioceramic nanoparticles are excellent alternatives to polymers due to their bioactivity, pH and temperature stability, multifunctionality, biocompatibility and tunable biodegradability. The use of bioceramics for local drug delivery in the field of orthopedics offer an efficient, safe mode of drug delivery directly to the surgical site thereby overcoming the limitations of systemic drug delivery. This review focuses on the development and applications of various nanobioceramics employed as drug delivery systems for the treatment of bone infections.

ZnO Nanostructures for Tissue Engineering Applications

This review focuses on the most recent applications of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures for tissue engineering. ZnO is one of the most investigated metal oxides, thanks to its multifunctional properties coupled with the ease of preparing various morphologies, such as nanowires, nanorods, and nanoparticles. Most ZnO applications are based on its semiconducting, catalytic and piezoelectric properties. However, several works have highlighted that ZnO nanostructures may successfully promote the growth, proliferation and differentiation of several cell lines, in combination with the rise of promising antibacterial activities. In particular, osteogenesis and angiogenesis have been effectively demonstrated in numerous cases. Such peculiarities have been observed both for pure nanostructured ZnO scaffolds as well as for three-dimensional ZnO-based hybrid composite scaffolds, fabricated by additive manufacturing technologies. Therefore, all these findings suggest that ZnO nanostructures represent a powerful tool in promoting the acceleration of diverse biological processes, finally leading to the formation of new living tissue useful for organ repair.

An nMgO containing scaffold: Antibacterial activity, degradation properties and cell responses

Bone repair failure caused by implant-related infections is a common and troublesome problem. In this study, an antibacterial scaffold was developed via selective laser sintering with incorporating nano magnesium oxide (nMgO) to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV). The results indicated the scaffold exerted high antibacterial activity. The antibacterial mechanism was that nMgO could cause oxidative damage and mechanical damage to bacteria through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and direct contact action, respectively, which resulted in the damage of their structures and functions. Besides, nMgO significantly increased the compressive properties of the scaffold including strength and modulus, due to its excellent mechanical properties and uniform dispersion in the PHBV matrix. Moreover, the degradation tests indicated nMgO neutralized the acid degradation products of PHBV and benefited the degradation of the scaffold. The cell culture demonstrated that nMgO promoted the cellular adhesion and proliferation, as well as osteogenic differentiation. The present work may open the door to exploring nMgO as a promising antibacterial material for tissue engineering.

Bioactive glasses as delivery systems for antimicrobial agents

Most biomaterial-associated infections are caused by opportunistic pathogens and bacteria that are regularly found within the microflora of the implant site. In addition, a biomaterial implant or device remains at risk of infection by hematogenous spread of bacteria disseminated from infections elsewhere in the body or from infected peri-implant tissue in revision surgery. The resulting infections are frequently accompanied by patient morbidity and discomfort and can lead to surgical replacement of the implant after lengthy, unsuccessful attempts to mitigate infections with antibiotic treatments. Therefore, extensive study is aiming to find new infection-resistant antimicrobial biomaterials and coatings for implants and devices to effectively reduce the incidence of biomaterial-associated infections. An overview of the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial efficacies of the numerous biomaterials currently available is beyond the scope of this review. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of bioactive glasses as biomaterial delivery systems for antimicrobial agents.

Influences of mesoporous zinc-calcium silicate on water absorption, degradability, antibacterial efficacy, hemostatic performances and cell viability to microporous starch based hemostat

Efficacious hemostatic agents have significant potential application in visceral organ or large vessel arterial injure. In this study, mesoporous zinc-calcium silicate (m-ZCS) was synthesized, and microporous starch (MS) based hemostatic agents of m-ZCS/MS composites for hemorrhage control was fabricated. The results showed that the incorporation of m-ZCS into MS significantly enhanced the water absorption and degradability of the composites, which were dependent on the m-ZCS content. Moreover, the composites with antibacterial property could inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the antibacterial ratios increased with the m-ZCS content. The in vitro coagulation evaluation by using activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) revealed that the composites significantly activated the intrinsic and extrinsic pathway of coagulation cascade. In addition, for the animal model of rabbits in ear vein, skin, arterial and liver injuries, the hemostatic time of the composites obviously reduced with the increase of m-ZSC content, in which the composite with 15wt% m-ZCS content (15mZSC) showed remarkable efficacy on bleeding control. The composites could promote the viability of L929 cells, indicating no cytotoxicity of the composites. The results suggested that the m-ZCS/MS composites with excellent hemostatic and antibacterial properties might be a candidate for controlling bleeding and infection.

Characterization of the mechanical behaviors and bioactivity of tetrapod ZnO whiskers reinforced bioactive glass/gelatin composite scaffolds

The purpose of this study is to construct bone tissue engineering scaffold with high porosity, good mechanical properties, and biological activities. Bioactive glass/gelatin composite scaffolds with different amounts of tetrapod zinc oxide whiskers were produced. The morphology, mechanical properties and in vitro bioactivity of the composite scaffolds were investigated. Results showed that, the composite scaffolds had open pores with a high degree of interconnectivity, and the porosity was higher than 80%. With the amount of ZnO whiskers increased, the mechanical properties of scaffolds increased. However, the reinforcing effect began to decrease when the addition is higher than 2wt%, which was resulted by the aggregation of the ZnO whiskers. In vitro test showed that, the composite scaffolds processed good biodegradability, and in vitro apatite-forming ability. The release of zinc ions retarded the growth of the HCA, so the HCA deposited on the scaffolds with ZnO was amorphous and worm-like. Furthermore, the composite scaffolds had good biocompatibility assessed by in vitro cell tests using rMSCs. All results are promising for the application of the composite scaffolds in bone repair.

ZnO quantum dots modified bioactive glass nanoparticles with pH-sensitive release of Zn ions, fluorescence, antibacterial and osteogenic properties

Zinc (Zn)-containing materials have osteogenic and antibacterial activities while bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGN) show bone-bonding ability, as well as osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. Zn-containing BGN are therefore considered to be promising materials for various biomedical applications, particularly in bone regeneration. In this study, we report a convenient method to prepare Zn-containing BGN by coating ZnO quantum dots (QDs) on BGN via electrostatic interactions. The synthesized ZnO-BGN nanocomposite particles are spherical and highly dispersed, and exhibit a unique fluorescence behavior under UV excitation, emitting three wavelengths in the violet, blue and green range. ZnO-BGN showed apatite-forming ability upon immersion in simulated body fluid, but their apatite formation was delayed compared to BGN. Interestingly, ZnO-BGN showed a rapid release of Zn ions at pH 4 but a far slower release at pH 7.4. ZnO-BGN also exhibited antibacterial effects on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at the concentrations of 1, 0.1, and 0.01 mg mL^-1. Higher concentrations could lead to stronger antibacterial effects. The LDH and live/dead assays indicated that ZnO-BGN had no significant cytotoxicity towards human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) at concentration of 0.1 and 0.01 mg mL^-1, but ZnO-BGN inhibited the relative proliferation of hMSC compared to BGN and the control according to the MTT assay. Notably ZnO-BGN improved the osteogenic differentiation of hMSC as indicated by the determination of the alkaline phosphatase activity. In conclusion, coating quantum dots on BGN is a promising strategy to produce Zn-containing BGN. The synthesized ZnO-BGN are potential materials for bone regeneration, considering their apatite-forming ability, unique ion-release behavior, effective antibacterial activity, non-cytotoxicity, and osteogenic potential.

Multifunctional and Regenerable Antibacterial Surfaces Fabricated by a Universal Strategy

Development of a versatile strategy for antibacterial surfaces is of great scientific interest and practical significance. However, few methods can be used to fabricate antibacterial surfaces on substrates of different chemistries and structures. In addition, traditional antibacterial surfaces may suffer problems related to the attached dead bacteria. Herein, antibacterial surfaces with multifunctionality and regenerability are fabricated by a universal strategy. Various substrates are first deposited with multilayered films containing guest moieties, which can be further used to incorporate biocidal host molecules, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) derivatives modified with quaternary ammonium salt groups (CD-QAS). The resulting surfaces exhibit strong biocidal activity to kill more than 95% of attached pathogenic bacteria. Notably, almost all the dead bacteria can be easily removed from the surfaces by simple immersion in sodium dodecyl sulfate, and the regenerated surfaces can be treated with new CD-QAS for continued use. Moreover, when another functional β-CD derivative molecule is co-incorporated together with CD-QAS, the surfaces exhibit both functions simultaneously, and neither specific biofunction and antibacterial activity is compromised by the presence of the other. These results thus present a promising way to fabricate multifunctional and regenerable antibacterial surfaces on diverse materials and devices in the biomedical fields.

Bioactive glass-based materials with hierarchical porosity for medical applications: Review of recent advances

Bioactive glasses have been traditionally used in the clinical practice to fill and restore osseous defects due to their unique ability to bond to host bone and stimulate new bone growth. In the last decade, a new set of bioactive glasses characterized by a highly ordered mesoporous texture has been developed and studied as a smart platform for the controlled release of biomolecules, in situ therapy and regenerative applications. This review points out the great potential carried by hierarchical bioactive glass scaffolds that exhibit pore scales from the meso- to the macro-range, and their impact in the broad field of tissue engineering, including the emerging applications in contact with soft tissues and diagnostics. Recent advances in the preparation methods of these multiscale constructs (e.g. mono- or multi-phase scaffolds, fibrous meshes, coated systems, porous nanospheres, and composites) are examined, along with their strengths and weaknesses. A bright future is expected for hierarchical systems based on biocompatible mesoporous materials as they can provide a unique set of functionalities, including enhanced bioactivity, local release of ions and drugs to elicit specific therapeutic effects (improved osteogenesis and angiogenesis, antibacterial properties), and implant/drug tracking, which were unthinkable when research on bioactive glasses began.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The advent of mesoporous bioactive glasses led to the birth of a new class of multifunctional biomaterials that have been proposed as smart platforms for local drug release and bone regeneration. Furthermore, mesoporous materials have been recently employed in the development of hierarchical macro-mesoporous scaffolds, composites and implantable systems. This reviews summarizes the latest applications of these multiscale biomaterials in tissue engineering, including the emerging applications in contact with soft tissues and diagnostics. The preparation methods, current uses and potential of these constructs and systems are examined and critically discussed to provide a useful, up-to-date contribution to the scientists working in the field.

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

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

Accelerated bone ingrowth by local delivery of Zinc from bioactive glass: oxidative stress status, mechanical property, and microarchitectural characterization in an ovariectomized rat model

BACKGROUND

Synthetic bone graft substitutes such as bioactive glass (BG) material are developed in order to achieve successful bone regeneration. Zn plays an important role in the proper bone growth, development, and maintenance of healthy bones.

AIMS

This study aims to evaluate in vivo the performance therapy of zinc-doped bioactive glass (BG-Zn) and its applications in biomedicine.

METHODS

Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized. BG and BG-Zn were implanted in the femoral condyles of Wistar rats and compared to that of control group. Grafted bone tissues were carefully removed to evaluate the oxidative stress status, histomorphometric profile, mechanical property, and mineral bone distribution by using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

RESULTS

A significant decrease of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was observed after BG-Zn implantation. Superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities significantly increased in ovariectomized group implanted with Zinc-doped bioactive glass (OVX-BG-Zn) as compared to ovariectomized group implanted with bioactive glass (OVX-BG). An improved mechanical property was noticed in contact of OVX-BG-Zn (39±6 HV) when compared with that of OVX-BG group (26±9 HV). After 90 days of implantation, the histomorphometric analysis showed that trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular number (Tb.N) were significantly increased with 28 and 24%, respectively, in treated rats of OVX-BG-Zn group as compared to those of OVX-BG groups. Trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) and trabecular bone pattern factor (TBPf) were significantly decreased in OVX-BG-Zn group with 29.5 and 54% when compared with those of OVX-BG rat groups. On the other hand, a rise in Ca and P ion concentrations in the implanted microenvironment was shown and lead to the formation/deposition of Ca-P phases. The ratio of pyridinoline [Pyr] to dihydroxylysinonorleucine [DHLNL] cross-links was normalized to the control level.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that BG-Zn might have promising potential applications for osteoporosis therapy.