Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells on Partially Demineralized Bone Scaffoldsin Vitro

Brucine Sulfate, a Novel Bacteriostatic Agent in 3D Printed Bone Scaffold Systems

Bacterial infection is a common complication in bone defect surgery, in which infection by clinically resistant bacteria has been a challenge for the medical community. Given this emerging problem, the discovery of novel natural-type inhibitors of drug-resistant bacteria has become imperative. Brucine, present in the traditional Chinese herb Strychnine semen, is reported to exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Brucine's clinical application was limited because of its water solubility. We extracted high-purity BS by employing reflux extraction and crystallization, greatly improved its solubility, and evaluated its antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Importantly, we found that BS inhibited the drug-resistant strains significantly better than standard strains and achieved sterilization by disrupting the bacterial cell wall. Considering the safety concerns associated with the narrow therapeutic window of BS, a 3D BS-PLLA/PGA bone scaffold system was constructed with SLS technology and tested for its performance, bacteriostatic behaviors, and biocompatibility. The results have shown that the drug-loaded bone scaffolds had not only long-term, slow-controlled release with good cytocompatibility but also demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity in antimicrobial testing. The above results indicated that BS may be a potential drug candidate for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and that scaffolds with enhanced antibacterial activity and mechanical properties may have potential applications in bone tissue engineering.

Decellularized vascularized bone grafts: A preliminary in vitro porcine model for bioengineered transplantable bone shafts

Introduction: Durable reconstruction of critical size bone defects is still a surgical challenge despite the availability of numerous autologous and substitute bone options. In this paper, we have investigated the possibility of creating a living bone allograft, using the perfusion/decellularization/recellularization (PDR) technique, which was applied to an original model of vascularized porcine bone graft. Materials and Methods: 11 porcine bone forelimbs, including radius and ulna, were harvested along with their vasculature including the interosseous artery and then decellularized using a sequential detergent perfusion protocol. Cellular clearance, vasculature, extracellular matrix (ECM), and preservation of biomechanical properties were evaluated. The cytocompatibility and in vitro osteoinductive potential of acellular extracellular matrix were studied by static seeding of NIH-3T3 cells and porcine adipose mesenchymal stem cells (pAMSC), respectively. Results: The vascularized bone grafts were successfully decellularized, with an excellent preservation of the 3D morphology and ECM microarchitecture. Measurements of DNA and ECM components revealed complete cellular clearance and preservation of ECM's major proteins. Bone mineral density (BMD) acquisitions revealed a slight, yet non-significant, decrease after decellularization, while biomechanical testing was unmodified. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) acquisitions after vascular injection of barium sulphate confirmed the preservation of the vascular network throughout the whole graft. The non-toxicity of the scaffold was proven by the very low amount of residual sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the ECM and confirmed by the high live/dead ratio of fibroblasts seeded on periosteum and bone ECM-grafts after 3, 7, and 16 days of culture. Moreover, cell proliferation tests showed a significant multiplication of seeded cell populations at the same endpoints. Lastly, the differentiation study using pAMSC confirmed the ECM graft's potential to promote osteogenic differentiation. An osteoid-like deposition occurred when pAMSC were cultured on bone ECM in both proliferative and osteogenic differentiation media. Conclusion: Fully decellularized bone grafts can be obtained by perfusion decellularization, thereby preserving ECM architecture and their vascular network, while promoting cell growth and differentiation. These vascularized decellularized bone shaft allografts thus present a true potential for future in vivo reimplantation. Therefore, they may offer new perspectives for repairing large bone defects and for bone tissue engineering.

Osteogenic Potential of a Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogel Functionalized with Poly-Lysine Dendrigrafts (DGL) for Bone Regeneration

Resorbable hydrogels are widely used as scaffolds for tissue engineering. These hydrogels can be modified by grafting dendrimer-linked functionalized molecules (dendrigrafts). Our aim was to develop a tunable poly(L-lysine) dendrigrafts (DGL)/PEG-based hydrogel with an inverse porosity and to investigate its osteogenic potential. DGL/PEG hydrogels were emulsified in a surfactant-containing oil solution to form microspheres. The toxicity was evaluated on Human Vascular Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) with Live/Dead and MTT assays. The effects on HUVECs were investigated through C5 Complement expression by RT-PCR and C5a/TGF-β1 secretion by ELISA. Recruitment of hMSCs was investigated using Boyden chambers and their osteogenic differentiation was studied by measuring Alkaline Phosphatase activity (ALP) and BMP-2 secretion by ELISA. Adjusting the stirring speed during the emulsification allowed to obtain spherical microspheres with tunable diameters (10-1600 µm). The cell viability rate with the hydrogel was 95 and 100% with HUVECs and hMSCs, respectively. Incubating HUVECs with the biomaterial induced a 5-fold increase in TGF-β1 and a 3-fold increase in Complement C5a release. Furthermore, HUVEC supernatants obtained after incubation with the hydrogel induced a 2.5-fold increase in hMSC recruitment. The hydrogel induced a 3-fold increase both in hMSC ALP activity and BMP-2 secretion. Overall, the functionalized hydrogel enhanced the osteogenic potential by interacting with endothelial cells and hMSCs and represents a promising tool for bone tissue engineering.

Cell-Laden Composite Hydrogel Bioinks with Human Bone Allograft Particles to Enhance Stem Cell Osteogenesis

There is a growing demand for bone graft substitutes that mimic the extracellular matrix properties of the native bone tissue to enhance stem cell osteogenesis. Composite hydrogels containing human bone allograft particles are particularly interesting due to inherent bioactivity of the allograft tissue. Here, we report a novel photocurable composite hydrogel bioink for bone tissue engineering. Our composite bioink is formulated by incorporating human allograft bone particles in a methacrylated alginate formulation to enhance adult human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) osteogenesis. Detailed rheology and printability studies confirm suitability of our composite bioinks for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting technology. In vitro studies reveal high cell viability (~90%) for hMSCs up to 28 days of culture within 3D bioprinted composite scaffolds. When cultured within bioprinted composite scaffolds, hMSCs show significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation as compared to neat scaffolds based on alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition, and osteocalcin expression.

Modifications in Gene Expression in the Process of Osteoblastic Differentiation of Multipotent Bone Marrow-Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induced by a Novel Osteoinductive Porous Medical-Grade 3D-Printed Poly(ε-caprolactone)/β-tricalcium Phosphate Composite

In this work, we evaluated the influence of a novel hybrid 3D-printed porous composite scaffold based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) microparticles in the process of adhesion, proliferation, and osteoblastic differentiation of multipotent adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (ah-BM-MSCs) cultured under basal and osteogenic conditions. The in vitro biological response of ah-BM-MSCs seeded on the scaffolds was evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity, adhesion, and proliferation (AlamarBlue Assay®) after 1, 3, 7, and 14 days of culture. The osteogenic differentiation was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization (Alizarin Red Solution, ARS), expression of surface markers (CD73, CD90, and CD105), and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) after 7 and 14 days of culture. The scaffolds tested were found to be bioactive and biocompatible, as demonstrated by their effects on cytotoxicity (viability) and extracellular matrix production. The mineralization and ALP assays revealed that osteogenic differentiation increased in the presence of PCL/β-TCP scaffolds. The latter was also confirmed by the gene expression levels of the proteins involved in the ossification process. Our results suggest that similar bio-inspired hybrid composite materials would be excellent candidates for osteoinductive and osteogenic medical-grade scaffolds to support cell proliferation and differentiation for tissue engineering, which warrants future in vivo research.

Cutting Edge Endogenous Promoting and Exogenous Driven Strategies for Bone Regeneration

Bone damage leading to bone loss can arise from a wide range of causes, including those intrinsic to individuals such as infections or diseases with metabolic (diabetes), genetic (osteogenesis imperfecta), and/or age-related (osteoporosis) etiology, or extrinsic ones coming from external insults such as trauma or surgery. Although bone tissue has an intrinsic capacity of self-repair, large bone defects often require anabolic treatments targeting bone formation process and/or bone grafts, aiming to restore bone loss. The current bone surrogates used for clinical purposes are autologous, allogeneic, or xenogeneic bone grafts, which although effective imply a number of limitations: the need to remove bone from another location in the case of autologous transplants and the possibility of an immune rejection when using allogeneic or xenogeneic grafts. To overcome these limitations, cutting edge therapies for skeletal regeneration of bone defects are currently under extensive research with promising results; such as those boosting endogenous bone regeneration, by the stimulation of host cells, or the ones driven exogenously with scaffolds, biomolecules, and mesenchymal stem cells as key players of bone healing process.

Effect of the silica nanoparticle size on the osteoinduction of biomineralized silk-silica nanocomposites

Understanding the properties and behavior of biomineralized protein-based materials at the organic-inorganic interface is critical to optimize the performance of such materials for biomedical applications. To that end, this work investigates biomineralized protein-based films with applications for bone regeneration. These films were generated using a chimeric protein fusing the consensus repeat derived from the spider Nephila clavipes major ampullate dragline silk with the silica-promoting peptide R5 derived from the Cylindrotheca fusiformis silaffin gene. The effect of pH on the size of silica nanoparticles during their biomineralization on silk films was investigated, as well as the potential impact of nanoparticle size on the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into osteoblasts. To that end, induction of the integrin αV subunit and the osteogenic markers Runx2 transcription factor and Bone Sialoprotein (BSP) was followed. The results indicated that pH values of 7-8 during biomineralization maximized the coverage of the film surface by silica nanoparticles yielding nanoparticles ranging 200-500 nm and showing enhanced osteoinduction in gene expression analysis. Lower (3-5) or high (10) pH values led to lower biomineralization and poor coverage of the protein surfaces, showing reduced osteoinduction. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the activation of the integrin αVβ3 in contact with silica nanoparticles, correlating with the experimental data on the induction of osteogenic markers. This work sheds light on the optimal conditions for the development of fit-for-purpose biomaterial designs for bone regeneration, while the agreement between experimental and computational results shows the potential of computational methods to predict the expression of osteogenic markers for biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The ability of biomineralized materials to induce hMSCs differentiation for bone tissue regeneration applications was analyzed. Biomaterials were created using a recombinant protein formed by the consensus repeat derived from the spider Nephila clavipes major ampullate dragline silk and the silica-promoting peptide R5 derived from the Cylindrotheca fusiformis silaffin gene. A combination of computational and experimental techniques revealed the optimal conditions for the synthesis of biomineralized silk-silica films with enhanced expression of markers related to bone regeneration.

An effective device and method for enhanced cell growth in 3D scaffolds: Investigation of cell seeding and proliferation under static and dynamic conditions

Cell adhesion on 3D-scaffolds is a challenging task to succeed high cell densities and even cell distribution. We aimed to design a 3D-cell Culture Device (3D-CD) for static seeding and cultivation, to be used with any kind of scaffold, limiting cell loss and facilitating nutrient supply. 3D printing technology was used for both scaffold and device fabrication. Apart from testing the device, the purpose of this study was to assess and compare static and dynamic seeding and cultivation methods, of wet and dry scaffolds, under normoxic and hypoxic conditions and their effects on parameters such as cell seeding efficiency, cell distribution and cell proliferation. Human adipose tissue was harvested and cultured in 3D-printed poly(epsilon-caprolactone) scaffolds. Micro-CT scans were performed and projection images were reconstructed into cross section images. We created 3D images to visualize cell distribution and orientation inside the scaffolds. The group of prewetted scaffolds was the most favorable to cell attachment. The 3D-cell Culture Device (3D-CD) enhanced cell seeding efficiency with almost no cell loss. We suggest that the most favorable outcome can be produced with static seeding in the device for 24 h, followed either by static cultivation in the same device or by dynamic cultivation.

Mineral Distribution Spatially Patterns Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Behavior on Monolithic Bone Scaffolds

Interfaces between soft tissue and bone are characterized by transitional gradients in composition and structure that mediate substantial changes in mechanical properties. For interfacial tissue engineering, scaffolds with mineral gradients have shown promise in controlling osteogenic behavior of seeded bone marrow stromal cells (bMSCs). Previously, we have demonstrated a 'top-down' method for creating monolithic bone-derived scaffolds with patterned mineral distributions similar to native tissue. In the present work, we evaluated the ability of these scaffolds to pattern osteogenic behavior in bMSCs in basic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic biochemical environments. Immunohistochemical (IHC) and histological stains were used to characterize cellular behavior as a function of local mineral content. Alkaline phosphatase, an early marker of osteogenesis, and osteocalcin, a late marker of osteogenesis, were positively correlated with mineral content in basic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic media. The difference in bMSC behavior between the mineralized and demineralized regions was most pronounced in an basic biochemical environment. In the mineralized regions of the scaffold, osteogenic markers were clearly present as early as 4 days in culture. In osteogenic media, osteogenic behavior was observed across the entire scaffold, whereas in chondrogenic media, there was an overall reduction in osteogenic biomarkers. Overall, these results indicate local mineral content of the scaffold plays a key role in spatially patterning bMSC behavior. Our results can be utilized for the development of interfacial tissue engineered scaffolds and understanding the role of local environment in determining bMSC behavior. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Soft tissue-to-bone interfaces, such as tendon-bone, ligament-bone, and cartilage-bone, are ubiquitous in mammalian musculoskeletal systems. These interfacial tissues have distinct, hierarchically-structured gradients of cellular, biochemical, and materials components. Given the complexity of the biological structures, interfacial tissues present unique challenges for tissue engineering. Here, we demonstrate that material-derived cues can spatially pattern osteogenic behavior in bone marrow stromal cells (bMSCs). Specifically, we observed that when the bMSCs are cultured on bone-derived scaffolds with mineral gradients, cells in contact with higher mineral content display osteogenic behavior at earlier times than those on the unmineralized substrate. The ability to pattern the cellular complexity found in native interfaces while maintaining biologically relevant structures is a key step towards creating engineered tissue interfaces.

Accelerating bone defects healing in calvarial defect model using 3D cultured bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on demineralized bone particle scaffold

Bone defects are usually difficult to be regenerated due to pathological states or the size of the injury. Researchers are focusing on tissue engineering approaches in order to drive the regenerative events, using stem cells to regenerate bone. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on biologically derived Gallus gallus domesticus-derived demineralized bone particle (GDD) sponge. The sponges were prepared by freeze-drying method using 1, 2, and 3 wt% GDD and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The GDD sponge was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, compressive strength, porosity, and Fourier transform infrared. The potential bioactivity of the sponge was evaluated by osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs using 3(4, dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and quantifying alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. in vivo experiments were evaluated through a micro-computerized tomography (μ-CT) and histological assays. The analysis confirmed that an increase in the concentration of the GDD in the sponge leads to a higher bone formation and deposition in rat calvarial defects. Histological assay results were in line with μ-CT. The results reported in this study demonstrated the potential application of GDD sponges as osteoinductor in bone tissue engineering in pathological or nonunion bone defects.

Intracellular Pathways Involved in Bone Regeneration Triggered by Recombinant Silk-silica Chimeras

Biomineralization at the organic-inorganic interface is critical to many biology material functions in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant silk-silica fusion peptides are organic-inorganic hybrid material systems that can be effectively used to study and control biologically-mediated mineralization due to the genetic basis of sequence control. However, to date, the mechanisms by which these functionalized silk-silica proteins trigger the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to osteoblasts remain unknown. To address this challenge, we analyzed silk-silica surfaces for silica-hMSC receptor binding and activation, and the intracellular pathways involved in the induction of osteogenesis on these bioengineered biomaterials. The induction of gene expression of αVβ3 integrin, all three Mitogen-activated Protein Kinsases (MAPKs) as well as c-Jun, Runt-related Transcription Factor 2 (Runx2) and osteoblast marker genes was demonstrated upon growth of the hMSCs on the silk-silica materials. This induction of key markers of osteogenesis correlated with the content of silica on the materials. Moreover, computational simulations were performed for silk/silica-integrin binding which showed activation of αVβ3 integrin in contact with silica. This integrated computational and experimental approach provides insight into interactions that regulate osteogenesis towards more efficient biomaterial designs.

Effects of strontium ranelate treatment on osteoblasts cultivated onto scaffolds of trabeculae bovine bone

Blocks of Bovine bone have shown promising results as implantable scaffolds to promote bone regeneration. Strontium ranelate (SrR) is both an antiresorptive and an anabolic drug that has been indicated for oral administration to treat osteoporosis. Few studies, however, have investigated the local effects of SrR and its use in association with biomaterials thus far. In this work, we investigated SrR effects in cultures of primary osteoblasts (PO, from Wistar rats calvaria) and immortalized osteoblasts (IO, from MC3T3-E1 cell line) cultivated as a monolayer or in association with scaffolds of bovine bone in mineralized (MBB) and demineralized (DBB) forms. The optimum dose to induce SrR effects on cell viability was established as 0.1 mM. Our results suggested that the local administration of SrR is biocompatible and non-cytotoxic. In addition, SrR appeared to accelerate primary osteoblast cell differentiation by enhancing alkaline phosphatase activity, the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers, the synthesis of the organic matrix, and a decrease of Ca²⁺ ions in mineralized nodules. DBB was found to be a better scaffold material to promote PO and IO cell proliferation. Exposing the proteins of the demineralized bone matrix might improve scaffold osteoconductive properties. Our results indicated the importance of further investigation of the administration of SrR at sites of bone repair. The association of SrR and bone grafts suggests the possibility of using SrR as a co-adjuvant for bone tissue bioengineering and in bone regeneration therapies.

Bilayer Poly(Lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Nano-Hydroxyapatite Membrane with Barrier Function and Osteogenesis Promotion for Guided Bone Regeneration

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is one such treatment that reconstructs neo-bone tissue by using a barrier membrane to prevent the invasion of soft tissue and to create a space for guiding new bone growth into the bone defect. Herein, we report a novel functionally graded bilayer membrane (FGBM) for GBR application. To fabricate the novel membrane, the composites of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and nano-hydroxyapatite were prepared by phase inversion for the dense layer and by electrospinning for another porous layer, and their corresponding properties were evaluated including surface morphology, mechanics, degradability, cell barrier function, and in vitro osteogenic bioactivity. The results showed that PLGA with 5% nHA in dense layer could meet the requirement of mechanical strength and have excellent barrier function even on condition of post-degradation. Furthermore, PLGA with 30% nHA in porous layer could achieve the good physical and chemical properties. In addition, 30% nHA incorporation would enhance the in vitro mineralization, and have superior capabilities of cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation compared to other groups. Therefore, the designed FGBM could potentially serve as a barrier for preferential tissue ingrowth and achieve a desirable therapeutic result for bone tissue regeneration.

Osteoinductive recombinant silk fusion proteins for bone regeneration

Protein polymers provide a unique opportunity for tunable designs of material systems due to the genetic basis of sequence control. To address the challenge of biomineralization interfaces with protein based materials, we genetically engineered spider silks to design organic-inorganic hybrid systems. The spider silk inspired domain (SGRGGLGGQG AGAAAAAGGA GQGGYGGLGSQGT)₁₅ served as an organic scaffold to control material stability and to allow multiple modes of processing, whereas the hydroxyapatite binding domain VTKHLNQISQSY (VTK), provided control over osteogenesis. The VTK domain was fused either to the N-, C- or both terminals of the spider silk domain to understand the effect of position on material properties and mineralization. The addition of the VTK domain to silk did not affect the physical properties of the silk recombinant constructs, but it had a critical role in the induction of biomineralization. When the VTK domain was placed on both the C- and N-termini the formation of crystalline hydroxyapatite was significantly increased. In addition, all of the recombinant proteins in film format supported the growth and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Importantly, the presence of the VTK domain enhanced osteoinductive properties up to 3-fold compared to the control (silk alone without VTK). Therefore, silk-VTK fusion proteins have been shown suitable for mineralization and functionalization for specific biomedical applications.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Organic-inorganic interfaces are integral to biomaterial functions in many areas of repair and regeneration. Several protein polymers have been investigated for this purpose. Despite their success the limited options to fine-tune their material properties, degradation patterns and functionalize them for each specific biomedical application limits their application. Various studies have shown that the biological performance of such proteins can be improved by genetic engineering. The present study provides data relating protein design parameters and functional outcome quantified by biomineralization and human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. As such, it helps the design of osteoinductive recombinant biomaterials for bone regeneration.

Low-frequency vibration treatment of bone marrow stromal cells induces bone repair in vivo

Objective(s):

To study the effect of low-frequency vibration on bone marrow stromal cell differentiation and potential bone repair in vivo.

Materials and Methods:

Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups with eight rabbits in each group. For each group, bone defects were generated in the left humerus of four rabbits, and in the right humerus of the other four rabbits. To test differentiation, bones were isolated and demineralized, supplemented with bone marrow stromal cells, and implanted into humerus bone defects. Varying frequencies of vibration (0, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 Hz) were applied to each group for 30 min each day for four weeks. When the bone defects integrated, they were then removed for histological examination. mRNA transcript levels of runt-related transcription factor 2, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligan, and pre-collagen type 1 α were measured.

Results:

Humeri implanted with bone marrow stromal cells displayed elevated callus levels and wider, more prevalent, and denser trabeculae following treatment at 25 and 50 Hz. The mRNA levels of runt-related transcription factor 2, osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand, and pre-collagen type 1 α were also markedly higher following 25 and 50 Hz treatment.

Conclusion:

Low frequency (25–50 Hz) vibration in vivo can promote bone marrow stromal cell differentiation and repair bone injury.

Development of demineralized bone matrix-based implantable and biomimetic microcarrier for stem cell expansion and single-step tissue-engineered bone graft construction

Tissue engineered bone grafts (TEBG) using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) demonstrate great potential for bone defect treatment.

Three-Dimensional Printing of Bone Extracellular Matrix for Craniofacial Regeneration

Tissue-engineered approaches to regenerate bone in the craniomaxillofacial region utilize biomaterial scaffolds to provide structural and biological cues to stem cells to stimulate osteogenic differentiation. Bioactive scaffolds are typically comprised of natural components but often lack the manufacturability of synthetic materials. To circumvent this trade-off, we 3D printed materials comprised of decellularized bone (DCB) matrix particles combined with polycaprolactone (PCL) to create novel hybrid DCB:PCL scaffolds for bone regeneration. Hybrid scaffolds were readily printable at compositions of up to 70% bone by mass and displayed robust mechanical properties. Assessments of surface features revealed both collagenous and mineral components of bone were present. Qualitative and quantitative assessments showed increased surface roughness relative to that of pure PCL scaffolds. These findings correlated with enhanced cell adhesion on hybrid surfaces relative to that on pure surfaces. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) cultured in DCB:PCL scaffolds without soluble osteogenic cues exhibited significant upregulation of osteogenic genes in hybrid scaffolds relative to pure PCL scaffolds. In the presence of soluble phosphate, hybrid scaffolds resulted in increased calcification. The hASC-seeded scaffolds were implanted into critical-sized murine calvarial defects and yielded greater bone regeneration in DCB:PCL scaffolds compared to that in PCL-only at 1 and 3 months post-transplantation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that 3D printed DCB:PCL scaffolds might be effective for stimulating bone regeneration.

Influence of silk-silica fusion protein design on silica condensation in vitro and cellular calcification

Biomaterial design via genetic engineering can be utilized for the rational functionalization of proteins to promote biomaterial integration and tissue regeneration. Spider silk has been extensively studied for its biocompatibility, biodegradability and extraordinary material properties. As a protein-based biomaterial, recombinant DNA derived derivatives of spider silks have been modified with biomineralization domains which lead to silica deposition and potentially accelerated bone regeneration. However, the influence of the location of the R5 (SSKKSGSYSGSKGSKRRIL) silicifying domain fused with the spider silk protein sequence on the biosilicification process remains to be determined. Here we designed two silk-R5 fusion proteins that differed in the location of the R5 peptide, C- vs. N-terminus, where the spider silk domain consisted of a 15mer repeat of a 33 amino acid consensus sequence of the major ampullate dragline Spidroin 1 from Nephila clavipes (SGRGGLGGQG AGAAAAAGGA GQGGYGGLGSQGT). The chemical, physical and silica deposition properties of these recombinant proteins were assessed and compared to a silk 15mer control without the R5 present. The location of the R5 peptide did not have a significant effect on wettability and surface energies, while the C-terminal location of the R5 promoted more controlled silica precipitation, suggesting differences in protein folding and possibly different access to charged amino acids that drive the silicification process. Further, cell compatibility in vitro, as well as the ability to promote human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation were demonstrated for both variants of the fusion proteins.

Three dimensional printed macroporous polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds for promoting bone formation in a critical-size rat calvarial defect model

We have explored the applicability of printed scaffold by comparing osteogenic ability and biodegradation property of three resorbable biomaterials. A polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite (PLA/HA) composite with a pore size of 500 μm and 60% porosity was fabricated by three-dimensional printing. Three-dimensional printed PLA/HA, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and partially demineralized bone matrix (DBM) seeded with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were evaluated by cell adhesion, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic gene expression of osteopontin (OPN) and collagen type I (COL-1). Moreover, the biocompatibility, bone repairing capacity and degradation in three different bone substitute materials were estimated using a critical-size rat calvarial defect model in vivo. The defects were evaluated by micro-computed tomography and histological analysis at four and eight weeks after surgery, respectively. The results showed that each of the studied scaffolds had its own specific merits and drawbacks. Three-dimensional printed PLA/HA scaffolds possessed good biocompatibility and stimulated BMSC cell proliferation and differentiation to osteogenic cells. The outcomes in vivo revealed that 3D printed PLA/HA scaffolds had good osteogenic capability and biodegradation activity with no difference in inflammation reaction. Therefore, 3D printed PLA/HA scaffolds have potential applications in bone tissue engineering and may be used as graft substitutes in reconstructive surgery.

Comparison of the reaction of bone-derived cells to enhanced MgCl2-salt concentrations

Magnesium-based implants exhibit various advantages such as biodegradability and potential for enhanced in vivo bone formation. However, the cellular mechanisms behind this possible osteoconductivity remain unclear. To determine whether high local magnesium concentrations can be osteoconductive and exclude other environmental factors that occur during the degradation of magnesium implants, magnesium salt (MgCl₂) was used as a model system. Because cell lines are preferred targets in studies of non-degradable implant materials, we performed a comparative study of 3 osteosarcoma-derived cell lines (MG63, SaoS2 and U2OS) with primary human osteoblasts. The correlation among cell count, viability, cell size and several MgCl₂ concentrations was used to examine the influence of magnesium on proliferation in vitro. Moreover, bone metabolism alterations during proliferation were investigated by analyzing the expression of genes involved in osteogenesis. It was observed that for all cell types, the cell count decreases at concentrations above 10 mM MgCl₂. However, detailed analysis showed that MgCl₂ has a relevant but very diverse influence on proliferation and bone metabolism, depending on the cell type. Only for primary cells was a clear stimulating effect observed. Therefore, reliable results demonstrating the osteoconductivity of magnesium implants can only be achieved with primary osteoblasts.

Influence of Immunogenicity of Allogeneic Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Bone Tissue Engineering

Allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (allo-BMSC)-based tissue-engineered bone (TEB) has great potential for bone defect repair. However, the immunogenicities and biological roles of allo-BMSCs are still controversial. In this study, we established an animal model of critical-sized mandibular defect in beagle dogs and compared the repairing effects of allo-BMSC-based TEB with autogenic BMSC (auto-BMSC)-based TEB without the administration of immunosuppressants. During the first 2 weeks postimplantation, a transient immune response in the allo-BMSC group was detected with an increase in proinflammation cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2, a declination of anti-inflammation cytokine IL-10, and an increase in percentages of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets in peripheral blood. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in bone union achievement, bone mineral density, and biomechanical properties between the two groups at 12 and 24 weeks postimplantation. Further subcutaneous implantation of allo-BMSCs/scaffold also exhibited the similar transient immune responses in the first 2 weeks postimplantation but followed by a decreased bone formation at 4 and 8 weeks postimplantation. These findings indicate that allo-BMSCs can induce a transient immunoreaction, which may temporally delay the osteogenesis of allo-BMSC/scaffold complex in early stage of in vivo implantation, whereas the long-term engineered bone formation was not affected.

Delivery of demineralized bone matrix powder using a salt-leached silk fibroin carrier for bone regeneration

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been widely used for bone regeneration due to its osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity. However, the use of DBM powder is limited due to the difficulties in handling, the tendency to migrate from graft sites and the lack of stability after surgery. In this study, a mechanically stable, salt-leached porous silk fibroin carrier was used to improve the handling properties of DBM powder and to support the attachment, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). The DBM-silk fibroin (DBM/SF) scaffolds were fabricated with different contents of DBM powder (0%, 10%, 20%, 40% and 80% DBM/SF scaffolds). It was found that the DBM/SF scaffolds could form a stable composite preventing the migration of DBM powder. Moreover, the microarchitecture and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were influenced by the DBM powder. rBMSCs were seeded on the DBM/SF scaffolds and cultured for 14 days. Cell proliferation assays and cell morphology observations indicated that 20% DBM/SF scaffolds exhibited good cell attachment and proliferation. In addition, compared with the other groups, the cellular function was more actively exhibited on 20% DBM/SF scaffolds, as evident by the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for osteoblast-related gene markers (e.g. COL1A1, ALP and cbfa1), the immunocytochemical evaluations of osteoblast-related extracellular matrix components (e.g. COL1A1, OCN and ONN) and the ALP activities. All the data suggested that DBM powder could be delivered using a silk fibroin carrier with improved handling characteristics and that 20% DBM/SF scaffolds had great potential as osteogenesis promoting scaffolds for successful applications in bone regeneration.

In vitro evaluation of bi-layer silk fibroin scaffolds for gastrointestinal tissue engineering

Silk fibroin scaffolds were investigated for their ability to support attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of human gastrointestinal epithelial and smooth muscle cell lines in order to ascertain their potential for tissue engineering. A bi-layer silk fibroin matrix composed of a porous silk fibroin foam annealed to a homogeneous silk fibroin film was evaluated in parallel with small intestinal submucosa scaffolds. AlamarBlue analysis revealed that silk fibroin scaffolds supported significantly higher levels of small intestinal smooth muscle cell, colon smooth muscle cell, and esophageal smooth muscle cell attachment in comparison to small intestinal submucosa. Following 7 days of culture, relative numbers of each smooth muscle cell population maintained on both scaffold groups were significantly elevated over respective 1-day levels—indicative of cell proliferation. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that both silk fibroin and small intestinal submucosa scaffolds were permissive for contractile differentiation of small intestinal smooth muscle cell, colon smooth muscle cell, esophageal smooth muscle cell as determined by significant upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin and SM22α messenger RNA and protein expression levels following transforming growth factor-β1 stimulation. AlamarBlue analysis demonstrated that both matrix groups supported similar degrees of attachment and proliferation of gastrointestinal epithelial cell lines including colonic T84 cells and esophageal epithelial cells. Following 14 days of culture on both matrices, spontaneous differentiation of T84 cells toward an enterocyte lineage was confirmed by expression of brush border enzymes, lactase, and maltase, as determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses. In contrast to small intestinal submucosa scaffolds, silk fibroin scaffolds supported spontaneous differentiation of esophageal epithelial cells toward a suprabasal cell lineage as indicated by significant upregulation of cytokeratin 4 and cytokeratin 13 messenger RNA transcript levels. In addition, esophageal epithelial cells maintained on silk fibroin scaffolds also produced significantly higher involucrin messenger RNA transcript levels in comparison to small intestinal submucosa counterparts, indicating an increased propensity for superficial, squamous cell specification. Collectively, these data provide evidence for the potential of silk fibroin scaffolds for gastrointestinal tissue engineering applications.

Engineering bone grafts with enhanced bone marrow and native scaffolds

The translation of tissue engineering approaches to the clinic has been hampered by the inability to find suitable multipotent cell sources requiring minimal in vitro expansion. Enhanced bone marrow (eBM), which is obtained by reaming long bone medullary canals and isolating the solid marrow putty, has large quantities of stem cells and demonstrates significant potential to regenerate bone tissues. eBM, however, cannot impart immediate load-bearing mechanical integrity or maintain the gross anatomical structure to guide bone healing. Yet, its putty-like consistency creates a challenge for obtaining the uniform seeding necessary to effectively combine it with porous scaffolds. In this study, we examined the potential for combining eBM with mechanically strong, osteoinductive trabecular bone scaffolds for bone regeneration by creating channels into scaffolds for seeding the eBM. eBM was extracted from the femurs of adult Yorkshire pigs using a Synthes reamer-irrigator-aspirator device, analyzed histologically, and digested to extract cells and characterize their differentiation potential. To evaluate bone tissue formation, eBM was seeded into the channels in collagen-coated or noncoated scaffolds, cultured in osteogenic conditions for 4 weeks, harvested and assessed for tissue distribution and bone formation. Our data demonstrates that eBM is a heterogenous tissue containing multipotent cell populations. Furthermore, coating scaffolds with a collagen hydrogel significantly enhanced cellular migration, promoted uniform tissue development and increased bone mineral deposition. These findings suggest the potential for generating customized autologous bone grafts for treating critical-sized bone defects by combining a readily available eBM cell source with decellularized trabecular bone scaffolds.

RGD-bearing peptide-amphiphile-hydroxyapatite nanocomposite bone scaffold: an in vitro study

In this study, a fibrous nanocomposite scaffold was developed by combining hydroxyapatite (HA) fibers produced by electrospinning method and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-bearing peptide-amphiphile (PA) gel (PA-RGD) produced by self-assembly and gelation induced by calcium ions. Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and atomic force microscopy imaging confirmed the successful production of inorganic and organic components of this nanocomposite material. Within the HA, the presence of a CaCO3 phase, improving biodegradation, was shown by x-ray diffraction analysis. The in vitro effectiveness of the PA-RGD/HA scaffold was determined on MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cultures in comparison with HA matrix and PA-RGD gel. The highest cellular proliferation was obtained on PA-RGD gel, however, alkaline phosphatase activity results denoted that osteogenic differentiation of the cells is more favorable on HA containing matrices with respect to PA-RGD itself. Microscopic observations revealed that all three matrices support cell attachment and proliferation. Moreover, cells form bridges between the HA and PA-RGD components of the nanocomposite scaffold, indicating the integrity of the biphasic components. According to the real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses, MC3T3-E1 cells expressed significantly higher osteocalcin on all matrices. Bone sialoprotein (BSP) expression level is ten-fold higher on PA-RGD/HA nanocomposite scaffolds than that of HA and PA-RGD scaffolds and the elevated expression of BSP on PA-RGD/HA nanocomposite scaffolds suggested higher mineralized matrix on this novel scaffold. Based on the results obtained in this study, the combination of HA nanofibers and PA-RGD gel takes advantage of good structural integrity during the cell culture, besides the osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties of the nanofibrous scaffold.

The effects of Ca2SiO4-Ca3(PO4)2 ceramics on adult human mesenchymal stem cell viability, adhesion, proliferation, differentiation and function

Bioceramic samples with osteogenic properties, suitable for use in the regeneration of hard tissue, were synthesized. The materials consisting of α-tricalcium phosphate (αTCP) and also αTCP doped with either 1.5 wt.% or 3.0 wt.% of dicalcium silicate (C2S) in the system Dicalcium Silicate-Tricalcium Phosphate (C2S-TCP) were obtained by solid state reaction. All materials were composed of a single phase, αTCP in the case of a pure material, or solid solution of C2S in αTCP (αTCPss) for the doped αTCP. Viability, proliferation and in vitro osteoinductive capacity were investigated by seeding, adult mesenchymal stem cells of human origin (ahMSCs) which were CD73(+), CD90(+), CD105(+), CD34(-) and CD45(-) onto the 3 substrates for 30 days. Results show a non-cytotoxic effect after applying an indirect apoptosis test (Annexin V/7-AAD staining), so ahMSCs adhered, spread, proliferated and produced extracellular matrix (Heparan-sulfate proteoglycan (HS) and osteopontin (OP)) on all the ceramics studied. Finally, the cells lost the cluster differentiation marker expression CD73, CD90 y CD105 characteristic of ahMSCs and they showed an osteoblastic phenotype (Alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), Osteocalcin production (OC), Collagen type I expression (Col-I), and production of mineralization nodules on the extracellular matrix). These observations were more evident in the αTCP ceramic doped with 1.5 wt.% C2S, indicating osteoblastic differentiation as a result of the increased concentration of solid solution of C2S in αTCP (αTCPss). Overall, these results suggest that the ceramics studied are cytocompatible and they are able to induce osteoblastic differentiation of undifferentiated ahMSCs.

Collagen osteoid-like model allows kinetic gene expression studies of non-collagenous proteins in relation with mineral development to understand bone biomineralization

Among persisting questions on bone calcification, a major one is the link between protein expression and mineral deposition. A cell culture system is here proposed opening new integrative studies on biomineralization, improving our knowledge on the role played by non-collagenous proteins in bone. This experimental in vitro model consisted in human primary osteoblasts cultured for 60 days at the surface of a 3D collagen scaffold mimicking an osteoid matrix. Various techniques were used to analyze the results at the cellular and molecular level (adhesion and viability tests, histology and electron microscopy, RT- and qPCR) and to characterize the mineral phase (histological staining, EDX, ATG, SAED and RMN). On long term cultures human bone cells seeded on the osteoid-like matrix displayed a clear osteoblast phenotype as revealed by the osteoblast-like morphology, expression of specific protein such as alkaline phosphatase and expression of eight genes classically considered as osteoblast markers, including BGLAP, COL1A1, and BMP2. Von Kossa and alizarine red allowed us to identify divalent calcium ions at the surface of the matrix, EDX revealed the correct Ca/P ratio, and SAED showed the apatite crystal diffraction pattern. In addition RMN led to the conclusion that contaminant phases were absent and that the hydration state of the mineral was similar to fresh bone. A temporal correlation was established between quantified gene expression of DMP1 and IBSP, and the presence of hydroxyapatite, confirming the contribution of these proteins to the mineralization process. In parallel a difference was observed in the expression pattern of SPP1 and BGLAP, which questioned their attributed role in the literature. The present model opens new experimental possibilities to study spatio-temporal relations between bone cells, dense collagen scaffolds, NCPs and hydroxyapatite mineral deposition. It also emphasizes the importance of high collagen density environment in bone cell physiology.

"In vitro" behaviour of adult mesenchymal stem cells of human bone marrow origin seeded on a novel bioactive ceramics in the Ca2SiO4-Ca 3(PO4)2 system

This work describes the evaluation of three ceramic materials as potential osteogenic substrate for bone tissue engineering. The capacity of adult human mesenchymal stem cells cultured under experimental conditions known to adhere, proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts was studied. Two types of culture medium: growth medium and osteogenic medium were evaluated. The materials were pure α-tricalcium phosphate and also αTCP doped with either 1.5 or 3 wt% of dicalcium silicate. The results showed that the hMSCs cultured adhered, spread, proliferated and produced mineralized extracellular matrix on all the ceramics studied. They showed an osteoblastic phenotype, especially in the αTCP doped with 1.5 wt% C(2)S, indicating osteoblastic differentiation as a result of the increased concentration of silicon in solid solution in TCP. Ceramics evaluated in this work are bioactive, cytocompatible and capable of promoting the differentiation of hMSCs into osteoblast.

Implantation of osteogenic differentiated donor mesenchymal stem cells causes recruitment of host cells

The interaction between host and donor cells is believed to play an important role in osteogenesis. However, it is still unclear how donor osteogenic cells behave and interact with host cells in vivo. The purpose of this study was to track the interactions between transplanted osteogenic cells and host cells during osteogenesis. In vitro migration assay was carried out to investigate the ability of osteogenic differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells (O-hMSCs) to recruit MSCs. At the in vivo level, O-hMSCs were implanted subcutaneously or into skull defects in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. New bone formation was observed by micro-CT and histological procedures. In situ hybridization (ISH) against human Alu sequences was performed to distinguish donor osteogenic cells from host cells. In vitro migration assay revealed an increased migration potential of MSCs by co-culturing with O-hMSCs. In agreement with the results of in vitro studies, ISH against human Alu sequences showed that host mouse MSCs migrated in large numbers into the transplantation site in response to O-hMSCs. Interestingly, host cells recruited by O-hMSCs were the major cell populations in newly formed bone tissues, indicating that O-hMSCs can trigger and initiate osteogenesis when transplanted in orthotopic sites. The observations from this study demonstrated that in vitro induced O-hMSCs were able to attract host MSCs in vivo and were involved in osteogenesis together with host cells, which may be of importance for bone tissue-engineering applications.

Bone scaffold architecture modulates the development of mineralized bone matrix by human embryonic stem cells

Decellularized bone has been widely used as a scaffold for bone formation, due to its similarity to the native bone matrix and excellent osteoinductive and biomechanical properties. We have previously shown that human mesenchymal and embryonic stem cells form functional bone matrix on such scaffolds, without the use of growth factors. In this study, we focused on differences in bone matrix that exist even among identical harvesting sites, and the effects of the matrix architecture and mineral content on bone formation by human embryonic stem cells (hESC). Mesenchymal progenitors derived from hESCs were cultured for 5 weeks in decellularized bone scaffolds with three different densities: low (0.281 ± 0.018 mg/mm(3)), medium (0.434 ± 0.015 mg/mm(3)) and high (0.618 ± 0.027 mg/mm(3)). The medium-density group yielded highest densities of cells and newly assembled bone matrix, presumably due to the best balance between the transport of nutrients and metabolites to and from the cells, space for cell infiltration, surface for cell attachment and the mechanical strength of the scaffolds, all of which depend on the scaffold density. Bone mineral was beneficial for the higher expression of bone markers in cultured cells and more robust accumulation of the new bone matrix.

Effect of grafting BMP2-derived peptide to nanoparticles on osteogenic and vasculogenic expression of stromal cells

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) plays a major role in initiating the cascade of osteogenesis. However, high doses of exogenous BMP2 coupled with diffusion away from the intended site cause adverse side-effects. An alternative is to use biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) grafted with peptides of the active domains of BMP2. NPs present a multivalent form of the peptide for stronger interaction with cell surface receptors, leading to a stronger activation of osteogenic signalling pathways. The objective of this work was to compare osteogenic activity of the BMP2 peptide (BMP2Pe), corresponding to residues 73-92 of BMP2 protein (BMP2Pr), grafted to biodegradable NPs with that of BMP2 protein (BMP2Pr). BMP2Pe was functionalized with a cysteine residue and grafted to poly(lactide fumarate) and poly(lactide-co-ethylene oxide fumarate) (PLAF/PLEOF) NPs via a thioether link. The calcium content of bone marrow stromal (BMS) cells cultured in osteogenic medium supplemented with BMP2 peptide/protein-grafted NPs (BMP2Pe-gNP and BMP2Pr-gNP) was slightly higher than other BMP2-treated groups, but all osteogenic groups showed similar levels of mineralization after 21 days. The expression pattern of master transcription factors Dlx5 and Runx2 indicated that BMP2 protein induced faster osteogenic signalling than the BMP peptide. The expression level of Osteopontin (OP), Osteocalcin (OC) and PECAM-1 in the NP-grafted BMP2 groups was significantly higher than those of ungrafted BMP2Pr and BMP2Pe groups, which may be due to a more effective presentation of the peptide/protein to cell surface receptors, thus leading to a stronger interaction of the peptide/protein with clustered cell surface receptors.

Placenta- versus bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal cells for the repair of segmental bone defects in a rabbit model

Tissue-engineered bones (TEBs) constructed with bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) seeded on biomaterial scaffolds have achieved good results for bone defect repair in both animal experiments and clinical trials. This has been limited, however, by the source and quantity of BMSCs. We here explored TEBs constructed by placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) and compared their effect for the repair of critical-sized segmental osteoperiosteal defects with TEBs constructed with BMSCs. PMSCs were isolated from rabbit placenta by gradient centrifugation and in vitro monolayer culturing, and BMSCs were isolated from the hindlimb bone marrow of newborn rabbit. Primary cultured PMSCs and BMSCs were uniformly in a spindle shape. Immunocytochemistry indicated that both types of cells are positive for CD44 and CD105, and negative for CD34 and CD40L, confirming that they are mesenchymal stem cells. BrdU-labeled PMSCs and BMSCs were respectively co-cultured with bio-derived bone materials to construct TEBs in vitro. Critical-sized segmental osteoperiosteal defects of radii were created in 24 rabbits by surgery. The defects were repaired with TEBs constructed with PMSCs and BMSCs. The results showed that TEBs constructed by both PMSCs and BMSCs could repair the osteoperiosteal defects in a 'multipoint' manner. Measurement of radiography, histology, immunohistochemistry, alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin assaying and biomechanical properties have found no significant difference between the two groups at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the transplantation (P > 0.05). Taken together, our results indicate that PMSCs have similar biological characteristics and osteogenic capacity to BMSCs and can be used as a new source of seeding cells for TEBs.

Osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity of NanoFUSE(®) DBM

Bone graft substitutes have become an essential component in a number of orthopedic applications. Autologous bone has long been the gold standard for bone void fillers. However, the limited supply and morbidity associated with using autologous graft material has led to the development of many different bone graft substitutes. Allogeneic demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been used extensively to supplement autograft bone because of its inherent osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. Synthetic and natural bone graft substitutes that do not contain growth factors are considered to be osteoconductive only. Bioactive glass has been shown to facilitate graft containment at the operative site as well as activate cellular osteogenesis. In the present study, we present the results of a comprehensive in vitro and in vivo characterization of a combination of allogeneic human bone and bioactive glass bone void filler, NanoFUSE(®) DBM. NanoFUSE(®) DBM is shown to be biocompatible in a number of different assays and has been cleared by the FDA for use in bone filling indications. Data are presented showing the ability of the material to support cell attachment and proliferation on the material thereby demonstrating the osteoconductive nature of the material. NanoFUSE(®) DBM was also shown to be osteoinductive in the mouse thigh muscle model. These data demonstrate that the DBM and bioactive glass combination, NanoFUSE(®) DBM, could be an effective bone graft substitute.

Effect of silica and hydroxyapatite mineralization on the mechanical properties and the biocompatibility of nanocomposite collagen scaffolds

A recently established materials concept of biomimetic composites based on silica, collagen, and calcium phosphates was adapted for the preparation of porous scaffolds suitable for tissue engineering applications. Mineralization was achieved by directed nucleation of silica on the templating organic phase during a sol-gel process with or without addition of hydroxyapatite. Both mineral phases (25 wt %, individually or combined in equal shares) influenced the scaffold's morphology at the nanoscale. Enhancement of apparent density and compressive strength was similar for silica or hydroxyapatite mineralization; however the stiffening effect of hydroxyapatite was much higher. All scaffold modifications provided proper conditions for adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells. The open porosity allowed cells to migrate throughout the scaffolds while maintaining their viability, both confirmed by MTT staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Initial cell distributions were graduated due to collagen mineralization, but balanced out over the cultivation time of 28 days. RT-PCR analyses revealed higher gene expression of ALP but lower expression of BSP II and osteocalcin because of collagen mineralization. The results demonstrate that both silica and hydroxyapatite offer comparable possibilities to tailor mechanical properties of collagen-based scaffolds without being detrimental to in vitro biocompatibility.

The differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) into osteoblasts is promoted by low amplitude, high frequency vibration treatment

Several studies have demonstrated that tissue culture conditions influence the differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). Recently, studies performed on SAOS-2 and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have shown the effectiveness of high frequency vibration treatment on cell differentiation to osteoblasts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of low amplitude, high frequency vibrations on the differentiation of hASCs toward bone tissue. In view of this goal, hASCs were cultured in proliferative or osteogenic media and stimulated daily at 30Hz for 45min for 28days. The state of calcification of the extracellular matrix was determined using the alizarin assay, while the expression of extracellular matrix and associated mRNA was determined by ELISA assays and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed the osteogenic effect of high frequency vibration treatment in the early stages of hASC differentiation (after 14 and 21days). On the contrary, no additional significant differences were observed after 28days cell culture. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images performed on 21day samples showed evidence of structured collagen fibers in the treated samples. All together, these results demonstrate the effectiveness of high frequency vibration treatment on hASC differentiation toward osteoblasts.

Generating 3D tissue constructs with mesenchymal stem cells and a cancellous bone graft for orthopaedic applications

Bone matrix (BM) is an acellular crosslinked porcine-derived cancellous bone graft, and therefore may provide advantages over other synthetic and naturally derived materials for use in orthopaedic surgery. Here, we analysed the potential of BM to support the growth and differentiation of primary human multipotent stromal cells/mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in order to predict in vivo bone regeneration events. Imaging with laser scanning confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that 1 day after static seeding, a dense population of viable MSCs could be achieved on scaffolds suggesting they could be used for in vivo delivery of cells to the implant site. Long-term growth analysis by confocal imaging and histology demonstrated that BM was permissive to the growth and the 3D population of primary MSCs and an enhanced green fluorescent protein expressing osteosarcoma cell line, eGFP.MG63s, over several days in culture. Measurement of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and mRNA expression levels of osteogenic markers (Runx-2, ALP, collagen type I, osteonectin, osteocalcin and osteopontin) indicated that BM supported osteogenesis of MSCs when supplemented with osteogenic stimulants. Upregulation of some of these osteogenic markers on BM, but not on tissue culture plastic, under non-osteogenic conditions suggested that BM also had osteoinductive capacities.

Modulation of mesenchymal stem cells behaviors by chitosan/gelatin/pectin network films

In this article, the chitosan/gelatin/pectin (CGP) network films were prepared to build appropriate physicochemical and mechanical microenvironment for attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Results suggested that the hydrophilicity and mechanical character of CGP composites films could be modulated via adjusting the pectin content in the composites. The investigations of attachment and proliferation behaviors of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the CGP films were carried out. The morphology of cells was observed with hematoxylin/eosin staining (HE) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was investigated via ALP and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results suggested that the CGP films have excellent biocompatibility. MSCs seeded on CGP (0.1) film show higher proliferation capacity compared with other samples. Moreover, osteogenic differentiation of MSCs also depends on the properties of the substrate. The MSCs seeded on CGP (0.5) expressed the highest ALP activity, osteogenic gene expression and mineral formation capacity. These results suggest that the composition of the CGP network films could effectively modulate their physicochemical and mechanical properties and further regulate the cell behaviors of MSCs.

A scaffold-free in vitro model for osteogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells

For studying cellular processes three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models are of a high importance. For tissue engineering approaches osseous differentiation is performed on 3D scaffolds, but material depending influences promote cellular processes like adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. To investigate developmental processes of mesenchymal stem cells without cell-substrate interactions, self-contained in vitro models mimicking physiological condition are required. However, with respect to scientific investigations and pharmaceutical tests, it is essential that these tissue models are well characterised and are of a high reproducibility. In order to establish an appropriate in vitro model for bone formation, different protocols are compared and optimised regarding their aggregate formation efficiency, homogeneity of the aggregates, the viability and their ability to induce differentiation into the osteogenic lineage. The protocols for the generation of 3D cell models are based on rotation culture, hanging drop technique, and the cultivation in non adhesive culture vessels (single vessels as well as 96 well plates). To conclude, the cultivation of hMSCs in 96 well non adhesive plates facilitates an easy way to cultivate homogenous cellular aggregates with high performance efficiency in parallel. The size can be controlled by the initial cell density per well and within this spheroids, bone formation has been induced.

In vitro electromagnetically stimulated SAOS-2 osteoblasts inside porous hydroxyapatite

One of the key challenges in reconstructive bone surgery is to provide living constructs that possess the ability to integrate in the surrounding tissue. Bone graft substitutes, such as autografts, allografts, xenografts, and biomaterials have been widely used to heal critical-size long bone defects due to trauma, tumor resection, congenital deformity, and tissue degeneration. In particular, porous hydroxyapatite is widely used in reconstructive bone surgery owing to its biocompatibility. In addition, the in vitro modification of hydroxyapatite with osteogenic signals enhances the tissue regeneration in vivo, suggesting that the biomaterial modification could play an important role in tissue engineering. In this study we have followed a biomimetic strategy where electromagnetically stimulated SAOS-2 human osteoblasts proliferated and built their extracellular matrix inside a porous hydroxyapatite scaffold. The electromagnetic stimulus had the following parameters: intensity of the magnetic field equal to 2 mT, amplitude of the induced electric tension equal to 5 mV, frequency of 75 Hz, and pulse duration of 1.3 ms. In comparison with control conditions, the electromagnetic stimulus increased the cell proliferation and the surface coating with bone proteins (decorin, osteocalcin, osteopontin, type-I collagen, and type-III collagen). The physical stimulus aimed at obtaining a better modification of the biomaterial internal surface in terms of cell colonization and coating with bone matrix.

Optimization of culture conditions for osteogenically-induced mesenchymal stem cells in β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics with large interconnected channels

The aim of this study was to optimize culture conditions for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics with large interconnected channels. Fully interconnected macrochannels comprising pore diameters of 750 µm and 1400 µm were inserted into microporous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds by milling. Human bone marrow-derived MSCs were seeded into the scaffolds and cultivated for up to 3 weeks in both static and perfusion culture in the presence of osteogenic supplements (dexamethasone, β-glycerophosphate, ascorbate). It was confirmed by scanning electron microscopic investigations and histological staining that the perfusion culture resulted in uniform distribution of cells inside the whole channel network, whereas the statically cultivated cells were primarily found at the surface of the ceramic samples. It was also determined that perfusion with standard medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) led to a strong increase (seven-fold) of cell numbers compared with static cultivation observed after 3 weeks. Perfusion with low-serum medium (2% FCS) resulted in moderate proliferation rates which were comparable to those achieved in static culture, although the specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity increased by a factor of more than 3 compared to static cultivation. Gene expression analysis of the ALP gene also revealed higher levels of ALP mRNA in low-serum perfused samples compared to statically cultivated constructs. In contrast, gene expression of the late osteogenic marker bone sialoprotein II (BSPII) was decreased for perfused samples compared to statically cultivated samples.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of osteogenesis of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells on partially demineralized bone matrix

The osteogenic differentiation potential of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) has been documented previously, and partially demineralized bone matrix (pDBM) represents a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering scaffolds. In this study, pDBM scaffolds derived from porcine cancellous bone were evaluated for their ability to support human UCB-MSCs osteogenic differentiation in vitro and bone-forming capacity in vivo to assess the potential use of UCB-MSCs in bone tissue engineering applications. MSCs were isolated from full-term human UCB and expanded, and their cell surface antigen markers and multilineage capability to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes were analyzed. The in vitro proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of UCB-MSCs loaded onto the three-dimensional pDBM scaffolds were determined. Critical-sized full-thickness circular defects (5 mm in diameter) created bilaterally in the parietal bones of athymic rats were treated with one of the following: osteogenically induced UCB-MSC/pDBM composites (Group A, n = 8), noninduced UCB-MSC/pDBM composites (Group B, n = 8), pDBM alone (Group C, n = 8), or left untreated (Group D, n = 8). Microcomputed tomography analysis showed that new bone was formed in Group A at 6 weeks postimplantation, and greater bone volume and density were found after 12 weeks. In other groups, new bone formation was not evident after 6 weeks, and no bone union was found at 12 weeks. Histological examination revealed that the defect was repaired by tissue-engineered bone in Group A at 12 weeks, and fibrous union was observed in Groups B, C, and D. These results demonstrate that pDBM can support osteogenic differentiation of human UCB-MSCs in vitro and in vivo, and UCB-MSCs may serve as an alternative cell source for bone tissue engineering and regeneration.

Spatial regulation of human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation in engineered osteochondral constructs: effects of pre-differentiation, soluble factors and medium perfusion

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to investigate the combined effects of three sets of regulatory factors: cell pre-differentiation, soluble factors and medium perfusion on spatial control of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation into cells forming the cartilaginous and bone regions in engineered osteochondral constructs.

DESIGN

Bone-marrow derived hMSCs were expanded in their undifferentiated state (UD) or pre-differentiated (PD) in monolayer culture, seeded into biphasic constructs by interfacing agarose gels and bone scaffolds and cultured for 5 weeks either statically (S) or in a bioreactor (BR) with perfusion of medium through the bone region. Each culture system was operated with medium containing either chondrogenic supplements (C) or a cocktail (Ck) of chondrogenic and osteogenic supplements.

RESULTS

The formation of engineered cartilage in the gel region was most enhanced by using undifferentiated cells and chondrogenic medium, whereas the cartilaginous properties were negatively affected by using pre-differentiated cells or the combination of perfusion and cocktail medium. The formation of engineered bone in the porous scaffold region was most enhanced by using pre-differentiated cells, perfusion and cocktail medium. Perfusion also enhanced the integration of bone and cartilage regions.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Pre-differentiation of hMSCs before seeding on scaffold was beneficial for bone but not for cartilage formation. (2) The combination of medium perfusion and cocktail medium inhibited chondrogenesis of hMSCs. (3) Perfusion improved the cell and matrix distribution in the bone region and augmented the integration at the bone-cartilage interface. (4) Osteochondral grafts can be engineered by differentially regulating the culture conditions in the two regions of the scaffold seeded with hMSCs (hydrogel for cartilage, perfused porous scaffold for bone).

Repair of segmental bone-defect of goat's tibia using a dynamic perfusion culture tissue engineering bone

Segmental bone defect resulted from trauma or excision of bone tumor or pathology represents a common and significant clinical problem. In an attempt to solve this dilemma, we use beta-TCP combined with autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (auto-BMSC) and cultured by dynamic perfusion to repair the segmental bone defects of goat's tibia. The beta-TCP scaffolds combined with auto-BMSC by dynamic perfusion bioreactor or in static state were respectively transplanted into the defect (30 mm) of the goat tibias. The X-ray films were gathered and analyzed at the different time points. At 24 weeks post-operation, tissue engineering bones implanted were analyzed by histology and Micro-CT. Results show that the capacity of osteogenesis in experimental group was higher than that of control group by X-ray, histological, and micro-CT analysis (p < 0.05). According to the study, we found that repair for segmental bone defects of tissue engineering bone cultured by dynamic perfusion culture bioreactor outweigh those cultured in static state. And we can conclude that this technology of tissue engineering bone will become a clinical method to the segmental bone-defects repair in the future.