The progress of early phase bone healing using porous granules produced from calcium phosphate cement

Research progress on the application of magnesium phosphate bone cement in bone defect repair: A review

BACKGROUND

Bone defects arising from diverse causes, such as traffic accidents, contemporary weapon usage, and bone-related disorders, present significant challenges in clinical treatment. Prolonged treatment cycles for bone defects can result in complications, impacting patients' overall quality of life. Efficient and timely repair of bone defects is thus a critical concern in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the scientific progress and achievements of magnesium phosphate bone cement (MPC) as an artificial bone substitute material. Additionally, the research seeks to explore the future development path and clinical potential of MPC bone cement in addressing challenges associated with bone defects.

METHODS

The study comprehensively reviews MPC's performance, encompassing e.g. mechanical properties, biocompatibility, porosity, adhesion and injectability. Various modifiers are also considered to broaden MPC's applications in bone tissue engineering, emphasizing drug-loading performance and antibacterial capabilities, which meet clinical diversification requirements.

RESULTS

In comparison to alternatives such as autogenous bone transplantation, allograft, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and calcium phosphate cement (CPC), MPC emerges as a promising solution for bone defects. It addresses limitations associated with these alternatives, such as immunological rejection and long-term harm to patients. MPC can control heat release during the curing process, exhibits superior mechanical strength, and has the capacity to stimulate new bone growth.

CONCLUSION

MPC stands out as an artificial bone substitute with appropriate mechanical strength, rapid degradation, non-toxicity, and good biocompatibility, facilitating bone repair and regeneration. Modification agents can enhance its clinical versatility. Future research should delve into its mechanical properties and formulations, expanding clinical applications to create higher-performing and more medically valuable alternatives in bone defect repair.

Bioinorganic supplementation of calcium phosphate-based bone substitutes to improve in vivo performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies

Supplementation of CaP-based bone graft substitutes with bioinorganics such as strontium, zinc or silicon is an interesting approach to increase the biological performance in terms of bone regenerative potential of calcium phosphate (CaP)-based bone substitutes. However, the in vivo efficacy of this approach has not been systematically analyzed, yet. Consequently, we performed a systematic review using the available literature regarding the effect of bioinorganic supplementation in CaP-based biomaterials on new bone formation and material degradation in preclinical animal bone defect models and studied this effect quantitatively by performing a meta-analysis. Additional subgroup analyses were used to study the effect of different bioinorganics, animal model, or phase category of CaP-based biomaterial on bone formation or material degradation. Results show that bioinorganic supplementation increases new bone formation (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 1.43 SD, confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.73). Additional subgroup analysis showed that strontium, magnesium and silica significantly enhanced bone formation, while zinc did not have any effect. This effect of bioinorganic supplementation on new bone formation was stronger for DCPD or β-TCP and biphasic CaPs than for HA or α-TCP (p < 0.001). In general, material degradation was slightly hindered by bioinorganic supplementation (mean difference [MD]: 0.84%, CI: 0.01-1.66), with the exception of strontium that significantly enhanced degradation. Overall, bioinorganic supplementation represents an effective approach to enhance the biological performance of CaP-based bone substitutes.

Assessment of the injection behavior of commercially available bone BSMs for Subchondroplasty® procedures

BACKGROUND

Bone substitute materials (BSMs) have been commercially available for over 30 years and have been used extensively in orthopedic procedures. Some BSMs are described as "injectable." With rising focus on minimally invasive surgical procedures, the range of applications in which these materials are injectable is of clinical interest. Specifically, their performance in closed, pressurized environments in the trabecular bone with microdamage or abnormal bone remodeling have not been well characterized. This issue arises often in the presence of bone marrow lesions of the subchondral bone in early onset osteoarthritis. The objective was to evaluate the in vitro injectability of several common commercially available BSMs. It was hypothesized that some materials self-described as "injectable" would fail to function in a small microarchitecture in comparison to the large void areas.

METHODS

Mechanical testing was performed and force data was collected. Each sample was additionally radiographed and then imaged under micro-computed tomography (CT).

RESULTS

Most of the BSM materials failed to be successfully injected into a simulated trabecular model. Simplex™, AccuFill® and StrucSure™ materials were the only ones that were injected successfully. Many of the materials underwent phase separation at higher pressures and were not able to be deployed from the injection syringe. In addition, a clinically relevant difference was seen between the manners in which the materials interdigitated into the existing structure.

CONCLUSION

The AccuFill® was the only material able to inject in a closed model and demonstrate adequate implantation of BSM into the simulated trabecular bone.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Injectability of BSMs is clinically relevant as the interest in minimally invasive surgical procedures is rising rapidly.

The effect of bone marrow concentrate and hyperbaric oxygen therapy on bone repair

Neoangiogenesis represents an essential part of bone regeneration. Therefore the improvement of neovascularization is the subject of various research approaches. In addition autologous mesenchymal stem cells concentrate in combination with bone substitute materials have been shown to support bone regeneration. In a rabbit model we examined the proposed synergistic effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and bone marrow concentrate (BMC) with porous calcium phosphate granules (CPG) on neoangiogenesis and osseous consolidation of a critical- size defect. The animal groups treated with HBOT showed a significantly higher microvessel density (MVD) by immunhistochemistry. Furthermore HBOT groups presented a significantly larger amount of new bone formation histomorphometrically as well as radiologically. We conclude that the increase in perfusion as a result of increased angiogenesis may play a key role in the effects of HBOT and consequently promotes bone healing.

Treatment of scaphoid waist fractures with the HCS screw

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical results of the Headless Compression Screw (HCS, Synthes) when used for treatment of acute scaphoid waist fractures. The new screw design generates interfragmentary compression with use of a compression sleeve. Twenty-one patients were treated for acute scaphoid waist fractures type B2 with HCS screws. The average time to the final follow-up examination was 12.8 months. All 21 fractures united after a mean time of 7.2 weeks. The mean DASH score was 7.1. The average motion of the wrist in extension was 61°, flexion was 46°, radial abduction reached 25° and the ulnar abduction was 31°. The maximally achieved grip strength was 86% compared to the uninjured side. Treatment of type B2 scaphoid fractures with the Headless Compression Screw showed good functional and radiographic results. The results are similar to those identified using other screw fixation systems.

Self-setting calcium orthophosphate formulations

In early 1980s, researchers discovered self-setting calcium orthophosphate cements, which are bioactive and biodegradable grafting bioceramics in the form of a powder and a liquid. After mixing, both phases form pastes, which set and harden forming either a non-stoichiometric calcium deficient hydroxyapatite or brushite. Since both of them are remarkably biocompartible, bioresorbable and osteoconductive, self-setting calcium orthophosphate formulations appear to be promising bioceramics for bone grafting. Furthermore, such formulations possess excellent molding capabilities, easy manipulation and nearly perfect adaptation to the complex shapes of bone defects, followed by gradual bioresorption and new bone formation. In addition, reinforced formulations have been introduced, which might be described as calcium orthophosphate concretes. The discovery of self-setting properties opened up a new era in the medical application of calcium orthophosphates and many commercial trademarks have been introduced as a result. Currently such formulations are widely used as synthetic bone grafts, with several advantages, such as pourability and injectability. Moreover, their low-temperature setting reactions and intrinsic porosity allow loading by drugs, biomolecules and even cells for tissue engineering purposes. In this review, an insight into the self-setting calcium orthophosphate formulations, as excellent bioceramics suitable for both dental and bone grafting applications, has been provided.

Bone marrow concentrate for autologous transplantation in minipigs. Characterization and osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells

Autologous bone marrow plays an increasing role in the treatment of bone, cartilage and tendon healing disorders. Cell-based therapies display promising results in the support of local regeneration, especially therapies using intra-operative one-step treatments with autologous progenitor cells. In the present study, bone marrow-derived cells were concentrated in a point-of-care device and investigated for their mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characteristics and their osteogenic potential. Bone marrow was harvested from the iliac crest of 16 minipigs. The mononucleated cells (MNC) were concentrated by gradient density centrifugation, cultivated, characterized by flow cytometry and stimulated into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Cell differentiation was investigated by histological and immunohistological staining of relevant lineage markers. The proliferation capacity was determined via colony forming units of fibroblast and of osteogenic alkaline-phosphatase-positive-cells. The MNC could be enriched 3.5-fold in nucleated cell concentrate in comparison to bone marrow. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a positive signal for the MSC markers. Cells could be differentiated into the three lines confirming the MSC character. The cellular osteogenic potential correlated significantly with the percentage of newly formed bone in vivo in a porcine metaphyseal long-bone defect model. This study demonstrates that bone marrow concentrate from minipigs display cells with MSC character and their osteogenic differentiation potential can be used for osseous defect repair in autologous transplantations.