High surface area biopolymeric-ceramic scaffolds for hard tissue engineering

Sol-Gel Technologies to Obtain Advanced Bioceramics for Dental Therapeutics

The aim of this work is to review the application of bioceramic materials in the context of current regenerative dentistry therapies, focusing on the latest advances in the synthesis of advanced materials using the sol-gel methodology. Chemical synthesis, processing and therapeutic possibilities are discussed in a structured way, according to the three main types of ceramic materials used in regenerative dentistry: bioactive glasses and glass ceramics, calcium phosphates and calcium silicates. The morphology and chemical composition of these bioceramics play a crucial role in their biological properties and effectiveness in dental therapeutics. The goal is to understand their chemical, surface, mechanical and biological properties better and develop strategies to control their pore structure, shape, size and compositions. Over the past decades, bioceramic materials have provided excellent results in a wide variety of clinical applications related to hard tissue repair and regeneration. Characteristics, such as their similarity to the chemical composition of the mineral phase of bones and teeth, as well as the possibilities offered by the advances in nanotechnology, are driving the development of new biomimetic materials that are required in regenerative dentistry. The sol-gel technique is a method for producing synthetic bioceramics with high purity and homogeneity at the molecular scale and to control the surfaces, interfaces and porosity at the nanometric scale. The intrinsic nanoporosity of materials produced by the sol-gel technique correlates with the high specific surface area, reactivity and bioactivity of advanced bioceramics.

Synthetic Calcium-Phosphate Materials for Bone Grafting

Synthetic bone grafting materials play a significant role in various medical applications involving bone regeneration and repair. Their ability to mimic the properties of natural bone and promote the healing process has contributed to their growing relevance. While calcium-phosphates and their composites with various polymers and biopolymers are widely used in clinical and experimental research, the diverse range of available polymer-based materials poses challenges in selecting the most suitable grafts for successful bone repair. This review aims to address the fundamental issues of bone biology and regeneration while providing a clear perspective on the principles guiding the development of synthetic materials. In this study, we delve into the basic principles underlying the creation of synthetic bone composites and explore the mechanisms of formation for biologically important complexes and structures associated with the various constituent parts of these materials. Additionally, we offer comprehensive information on the application of biologically active substances to enhance the properties and bioactivity of synthetic bone grafting materials. By presenting these insights, our review enables a deeper understanding of the regeneration processes facilitated by the application of synthetic bone composites.

Fabrication of Biologically Inspired Electrospun Collagen/Silk fibroin/bioactive glass composited nanofibrous scaffold to accelerate the treatment efficiency of bone repair

Bone disease and disorder treatment might be difficult because of its complicated nature. Millions of patients each year need bone substitutes that may help them recover quickly from a variety of illnesses. Synthetic bone replacements that mirror the structural, chemical, and biological features of bone matrix structure will be very helpful and in high demand. In this research, the inorganic bioactive glass nanoparticles matrixed with organic collagen and silk fibroin structure (COL/SF/CaO-SiO₂) were used to create multifunctional bone-like fibers in this study, which we describe here. The fiber structure is organized in a layered fashion comparable to the sequence in which apatite and neo tissue are formed. The amino groups in COL and SF combined with CaO-SiO₂ to stabilize the resulting composite nanofiber. Morphological and functional studies confirmed that crystalline CaO-SiO₂ nanoparticles with average sizes of 20 ± 5 nm are anchored on a 115 ± 10 nm COL/SF nanofiber matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) results confirmed the presence of C, N, O, Ca, and Si in the composite fiber with an atomic percentage of 59.46, 3.30, 20.25, 3.38 and 13.61%. respectively. The biocompatibility examination with osteoblast cells (Saos-2) revealed that the CAL/SF/CaO-SiO₂ composite nanofiber had enhanced osteogenic activity. Finally, when the CAL/SF/CaO-SiO₂ composite nanofiber scaffolds were used to treat an osteoporotic bone defect in a rat model, the composite nanofiber scaffolds significantly promoted bone regeneration and vascularization. This novel fibrous scaffold class represents a potential breakthrough in the design of advanced materials for complicated bone regeneration.

Sol-Gel Synthesis of Endodontic Cements: Post-Synthesis Treatment to Improve Setting Performance and Bioactivity

The sol-gel process is a wet chemical technique that allows very fine control of the composition, microstructure, and final textural properties of materials, and has great potential for the synthesis of endodontic cements with improved properties. In this work, the influence of different sol-gel synthesis variables on the preparation of endodontic cement based on calcium silicate with Ca/Si stoichiometry equal to 3 was studied. Starting from the most optimal hydraulic composition selected, a novel second post-synthesis treatment using ethanol was essayed. The effects of the tested variables were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption, and Gillmore needles to determine the setting time and simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion to measure the bioactive response in vitro. The results indicated that the sol-gel technique is effective in obtaining bioactive endodontic cements (BECs) with high content of the hydraulic compound tricalcium silicate (C3S) in its triclinic polymorph. The implementation of a novel post-synthesis treatment at room temperature using ethanol allows obtaining a final BEC product with a finer particle size and a higher CaCO₃ content, which results in an improved material in terms of setting time and bioactive response.

Mesoporous Silica-Based Nanoparticles as Non-Viral Gene Delivery Platform for Treating Retinitis Pigmentosa

BACKGROUND

Gene therapy is a therapeutic possibility for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), in which therapeutic transgenes are currently delivered to the retina by adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs). Although their safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in both clinical and preclinical settings, AAVs present some technical handicaps, such as limited cargo capacity and possible immunogenicity in repetitive doses. The development of alternative, non-viral delivery platforms like nanoparticles is of great interest to extend the application of gene therapy for RP.

METHODS

Amino-functionalized mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles (N-MSiNPs) were synthesized, physico-chemically characterized, and evaluated as gene delivery systems for human cells in vitro and for retinal cells in vivo. Transgene expression was evaluated by WB and immunofluorescence. The safety evaluation of mice subjected to subretinal injection was assessed by ophthalmological tests (electroretinogram, funduscopy, tomography, and optokinetic test).

RESULTS

N-MSiNPs delivered transgenes to human cells in vitro and to retinal cells in vivo. No adverse effects were detected for the integrity of the retinal tissue or the visual function of treated eyes. N-MSiNPs were able to deliver a therapeutic transgene candidate for RP, PRPF31, both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

N-MSiNPs are safe for retinal delivery and thus a potential alternative to viral vectors.

Nanofibrous Gelatin-Based Biomaterial with Improved Biomimicry Using D-Periodic Self-Assembled Atelocollagen

Design of bioinspired materials that mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) at the nanoscale is a challenge in tissue engineering. While nanofibrillar gelatin materials mimic chemical composition and nano-architecture of natural ECM collagen components, it lacks the characteristic D-staggered array (D-periodicity) of 67 nm, which is an important cue in terms of cell recognition and adhesion properties. In this study, a nanofibrous gelatin matrix with improved biomimicry is achieved using a formulation including a minimal content of D-periodic self-assembled atelocollagen. We suggest a processing route approach consisting of the thermally induced phase separation of the gelatin based biopolymeric mixture precursor followed by chemical-free material cross-linking. The matrix nanostructure is characterized using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The cell culture assays indicate that incorporation of 2.6 wt.% content of D-periodic atelocollagen to the gelatin material, produces a significant increase of MC3T3-E1 mouse preosteoblast cells attachment and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) proliferation, in comparison with related bare gelatin matrices. The presented results demonstrate the achievement of an efficient route to produce a cost-effective, compositionally defined and low immunogenic “collagen-like” instructive biomaterial, based on gelatin.

A Microstructure Insight of MTA Repair HP of Rapid Setting Capacity and Bioactive Response

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is considered a bioactive endodontic material, which promotes natural mineralization at the material-tooth tissue interface. MTA Repair HP stands out because of the short setting time and the quick and effective bioactive response in vitro. The bioactivity, depens on material composition and microstructure. This work is devoted to analyze MTA Repair HP microstructural features, of both the powder precursor and set material, to get insights into the material physicochemical parameters—functionality performance relationships. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses were performed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were carried out at different times to investigate setting process. Bioactivity evaluation in vitro was carried out by soaking the processed cement disk in simulated body fluid (SBF). The presented results point out those MTA Repair HP precursor material characteristics of tricalcium silicate particles of nanometric size and high aspect ratio, which provide an elevated surface area and maximized components dispersion of calcium silicate and very reactive calcium aluminate. The MTA Repair HP precursor powder nanostructure and formulation, allows a hydration process comprising silicate hydrate structures, which are very effective to achieve both fast setting and efficient bioactive response.

Copper-containing mesoporous bioactive glass promotes angiogenesis in an in vivo zebrafish model

The osteogenic and angiogenic responses of organisms to the ionic products of degradation of bioactive glasses (BGs) are being intensively investigated. The promotion of angiogenesis by copper (Cu) has been known for more than three decades. This element can be incorporated to delivery carriers, such as BGs, and the materials used in biological assays. In this work, Cu-containing mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) in the SiO₂-CaO-P₂O₅ compositional system was prepared incorporating 5% mol Cu (MBG-5Cu) by replacement of the corresponding amount of Ca. The biological effects of the ionic products of MBG biodegradation were evaluated on a well-known endothelial cell line, the bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAEC), as well as in an in vivo zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo assay. The results suggest that ionic products of both MBG (Cu free) and MBG-5Cu materials promote angiogenesis. In vitro cell cultures show that the ionic dissolution products of these materials are not toxic and promote BAEC viability and migration. In addition, the in vivo assay indicates that both exposition and microinjection of zebrafish embryos with Cu free MBG material increase vessel number and thickness of the subintestinal venous plexus (SIVP), whereas assays using MBG-5Cu enhance this effect.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) with high specific surface area, well-ordered pores, large pore volumes and controllable amount of ions are interesting to develop controlled drug delivery systems for bone tissue regeneration. Copper (Cu) incorporation to the basic SiO₂-CaO-P₂O₅ composition has attracted high interest due to its multifunctional biological properties. Promotion of angiogenesis is one of these properties, which can be integrated to the biomaterial with lower cost and higher stability when compared with growth factors. This work reports the synthesis and characterization of Cu-containing MBG evaluating its angiogenic properties in the subintestinal vessel zebrafish assay. This transgenic in vivo assay is merging as an alternative model providing short-time consuming protocols and facilities during pro-angiogenic drug screenings. The report shows that the ionic products of this MBG material delivered to the zebrafish incubation media significantly enhance angiogenesis in comparison with control groups. Besides, results indicate Cu ions may exhibit a synergic effect with Si, Ca, and P ions in angiogenesis stimulation both in vitro and in vivo. To our knowledge, this is the first time that zebrafish in vivo assays are used to evaluate angiogenic activity of ionic dissolution products from MBG materials.