Study of bone-like hydroxyapatite/polyamino acid composite materials for their biological properties and effects on the reconstruction of long bone defects

In vitro evaluation of bone cell response to novel 3D-printable nanocomposite biomaterials for bone reconstruction

Critically-sized segmental bone defects represent significant challenges requiring grafts for reconstruction. 3D-printed synthetic bone grafts are viable alternatives to structural allografts if engineered to provide appropriate mechanical performance and osteoblast/osteoclast cell responses. Novel 3D-printable nanocomposites containing acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) or methacrylated AESO (mAESO), polyethylene glycol diacrylate, and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) were produced using masked stereolithography. The effects of volume fraction of nHA and methacrylation of AESO on interactions of differentiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblast (dMC3T3-OB) and differentiated RAW264.7 osteoclast cells with 3D-printed nanocomposites were evaluated in vitro and compared with a control biomaterial, hydroxyapatite (HA). Higher nHA content and methacrylation significantly improved the mechanical properties. All nanocomposites supported dMC3T3-OB cells' adhesion and proliferation. Higher amounts of nHA enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. mAESO in the nanocomposites resulted in greater adhesion, proliferation, and activity at day 7 compared with AESO nanocomposites. Excellent osteoclast-like cells survival, defined actin rings, and large multinucleated cells were only observed on the high nHA fraction (30%) mAESO nanocomposite and the HA control. Thus, mAESO-based nanocomposites containing higher amounts of nHA have better interactions with osteoblast-like and osteoclast-like cells, comparable with HA controls, making them a potential future alternative graft material for bone defect repair.

Wood as Possible Renewable Material for Bone Implants-Literature Review

Bone fractures and bone defects affect millions of people every year. Metal implants for bone fracture fixation and autologous bone for defect reconstruction are used extensively in treatment of these pathologies. Simultaneously, alternative, sustainable, and biocompatible materials are being researched to improve existing practice. Wood as a biomaterial for bone repair has not been considered until the last 50 years. Even nowadays there is not much research on solid wood as a biomaterial in bone implants. A few species of wood have been investigated. Different techniques of wood preparation have been proposed. Simple pre-treatments such as boiling in water or preheating of ash, birch and juniper woods have been used initially. Later researchers have tried using carbonized wood and wood derived cellulose scaffold. Manufacturing implants from carbonized wood and cellulose requires more extensive wood processing-heat above 800 °C and chemicals to extract cellulose. Carbonized wood and cellulose scaffolds can be combined with other materials, such as silicon carbide, hydroxyapatite, and bioactive glass to improve biocompatibility and mechanical durability. Throughout the publications wood implants have provided good biocompatibility and osteoconductivity thanks to wood's porous structure.

Bioactive glass doped with noble metal nanoparticles for bone regeneration: in vitro kinetics and proliferative impact on human bone cell line

This work investigates the bioactivity of novel silver-doped (BG-Ag) and gold-doped (BG-Au) quaternary 46S6 bioactive glasses synthesized via a semi-solid-state technique. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model successfully predicted the in vitro uptake kinetic profiles of the initial ion-exchange release of Ca in simulated body fluid, the subsequent Si release, and finally, the adsorption of Ca and P onto the bioactive glasses. Doping with silver nanoparticles enhanced the rate of P uptake by up to approximately 90%; whereas doping with gold nanoparticles improved Ca and P uptake rates by up to about 7 and 2 times, respectively; as well as Ca uptake capacity by up to about 19%. The results revealed that the combined effect of Ca and Si release, and possibly the release of silver and gold ions into solution, influenced apatite formation due to their effect on Ca and P uptake rate and capacity. In general, gold-doped bioactive glasses are favoured for enhancing Ca and P uptake rates in addition to Ca uptake capacity. However, silver-doped bioactive glasses being less expensive can be utilized for applications targeting rapid healing. In vitro studies showed that BG, BG-Ag and BG-Au had no cytotoxic effects on osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, while they exhibited a remarkable cell proliferation even at low concentration. The prepared bioactive glass doped with noble metal nanoparticles could be potentially used in bone regeneration applications.

Calcifying characteristics of peripheral vascular smooth muscle cells of chronic kidney disease patients with critical limb ischemia

The role of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vascular calcification, which is related to chronic kidney disease (CKD), has been studied in greater detail in the major arteries relative to the peripheral arteries. We compared the calcifying characteristics of peripheral VSMCs relative to non-pathologic major VSMCs in patients with severe peripheral artery disease (PAD). We isolated peripheral VSMCs from the posterior tibial artery of 10 patients with CKD who underwent below-knee amputation for critical limb ischemia (CLI). Using normal human aortic VSMCs as a control group, we cultured the cells in normal and high phosphate media for 10 days, and subsequently tested by immunofluorescence staining. We compared the calcification levels between the two groups using various assays, tests for cell viability, and scanning electron microscopy. As a result, calcification of pathologic peripheral VSMCs increased significantly with time (p = 0.028) and was significantly higher than that in human aortic VSMCs in calcium assays (p = 0.043). Dead cells in the pathologic VSMC group were more distinct in high phosphate media than in human aortic VSMCs. In conclusion, VSMCs from the peripheral artery of patients with severe CKD and CLI who underwent amputation surgery showed marked calcifying characteristics compared to normal human aortic VSMCs.

Recent developments in biomaterials for long-bone segmental defect reconstruction: A narrative overview

Reconstruction of long-bone segmental defects (LBSDs) has been one of the biggest challenges in orthopaedics. Biomaterials for the reconstruction are required to be strong, osteoinductive, osteoconductive, and allowing for fast angiogenesis, without causing any immune rejection or disease transmission. There are four main types of biomaterials including autograft, allograft, artificial material, and tissue-engineered bone. Remarkable progress has been made in LBSD reconstruction biomaterials in the last ten years.

The translational potential of this article

Our aim is to summarize recent developments in the divided four biomaterials utilized in the LBSD reconstruction to provide the clinicians with new information and comprehension from the biomaterial point of view.

Histological Scoring Method to Assess Bone Healing in Critical Size Bone Defect Models

Large bone defects are a major problem in trauma and orthopedic surgery. Tissue engineering based treatments have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional bone grafting techniques. Critical size bone defect animal models have been developed and widely used to evaluate and compare therapeutic effectiveness in bone tissue engineering treatments. To measure healing in a given defect after treatment, histological assessment methods are commonly used. These histological methods are typically qualitative and only measure the amount of newly formed bone. In this study, we introduce a new histological scoring method that in addition to new bone formation also measures newly formed "cartilage," "fibrous tissue," and "remnant bone defect size." Using Kappa analysis and interclass correlation analysis, we verified the reliability of our new scoring method. These additional parameters make it possible to differentiate between the hard callus and soft callus phases of healing and, thus, derive more valuable information about the effect different tissue-engineering treatments have on the healing process.

Interrelationships among hydrogen permeation, physiochemical properties and early adsorption abilities of titanium

This study aimed to investigate if the titanium samples with low hydrogen permeation which treated with a novel etching combination: phosphoric acid and sodium fluoride could influence the surface physiochemical properties and early adsorption ability. Titanium samples were treated with three different concentrations of the new formula, as groups A, B and C, and treated with the traditional etching formula, as group T. Zeta potential, contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and fibronectin (FN)/vitronectin (VN) adsorption of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat tibial osteotomies in the initial 30min and MG-63 adsorption in the initial 24 h were detected. Basing on the results of trails and pearson correlation analysis, the low hydrogen permeation into titanium didn't exert an impact on the surface morphology and surface stability. The adsorptions of F, P, S, acid hydroxyl and basic hydroxyl on the surfaces brought no bear on them as well. Surface concave depth and surface skewness showed highly positive correlation and moderate negative correlation with adsorption ability, respectively. Therefore, the surface morphology of titanium treated with the novel etching formula plays the only and primary role on the early adsorption. Because of its specific surface topography, group C showed the best performance which possessed slightly superiority than those of group B and group T, and with the lowest being group A. The low hydrogen permeation into titanium substrate was just benefit for improving the titanium mechanical properties, but not for the surface biochemical traits.

Release characteristics of bone‑like hydroxyapatite/poly amino acid loaded with rifapentine microspheres in vivo

Bone-like hydroxyapatite/poly amino acid (BHA/PAA) is a potential bone repair material. Rifapentine-loaded poly(lactic‑co‑glycolic acid) microspheres (RPMs) are bioactive and efficient controlled‑release delivery systems used in vitro. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vivo drug release characteristics of RPM‑loaded BHA/PAA on a rabbit model of bone defect. RPM was combined with BHA/PAA to obtain the drug‑loaded, slow‑releasing bioactive material. Bone defects were generated in New Zealand white rabbits and the rabbits were then implanted with RPM‑loaded BHA/PAA. High‑performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the concentrations of rifapentine in the plasma and the local muscle tissues of the treated rabbits. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and biochemical analyses were performed to elucidate potential side effects of RPM‑loaded BHA/PAA on the heart, liver and kidney histopathology and functions of the treated rabbits. The biocompatibility and osteogenic ability of RPM‑loaded BHA/PAA was evaluated by H&E staining. The results demonstrated that the material was completely degraded and absorbed at 12 weeks following implantation and new trabecular bone and cartilage tissues had formed. The in vivo release tests revealed that RPM‑loaded BHA/PAA exhibited sustained release profiles of rifapentine and the drug concentration in the muscle tissues remained higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration of rifapentine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis for as long as 12 weeks. In addition, RPM‑loaded BHA/PAA had no long‑term side effects to the heart, liver and kidney of the treated rabbits. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that RPM‑loaded BHA/PAA slowly and continuously released rifapentine in vivo and exhibited no side effects on heart, liver and kidney tissues and function. Furthermore, RPM‑loaded BHA/PAA promoted new bone formation, while it was gradually degraded and absorbed. The present study provided a theoretical basis for the potential advancement in developing novel treatments for osteoarticular tuberculosis.

Three-dimensional system enabling the maintenance and directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells under defined conditions

The development of in vitro models for the maintenance and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is an active area of stem cell research. The strategies used so far are based mainly on two-dimensional (2D) cultures, in which cellular phenotypes are regulated by soluble factors. We show that a 3D culture system with atelocollagen porous scaffolds can significantly improve the outcome of the current platforms intended for the maintenance and lineage specification of mouse PSCs (mPSCs). Unlike 2D conditions, the 3D conditions maintained the undifferentiated state of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) without exogenous stimulation and also supported endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm differentiation of mESCs under serum-free conditions. Moreover, 3D mPSC-derived mesodermal cells showed accelerated osteogenic differentiation, giving rise to functional osteoblast-osteocyte populations within calcified structures. The present strategy offers a 3D platform suitable for the formation of organoids that mimic in vivo organs containing various cell types, and it may be adaptable to the generation of ectoderm-, mesoderm-, and endoderm-derived tissues when combined with appropriate differentiation treatments.

Effect of bone-like hydroxyapatite/poly amino acid loaded with rifapentine microspheres on bone and joint tuberculosis in vitro

Rifapentine-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres (RPMs)-loaded bone-like hydroxyapatite/poly amino acid (BHA/PAA) is effective in curing Staphylococcus aureus-induced chronic osteomyelitis. This study continues to investigate the effect of RPM-loaded BHA/PAA on the bacterial growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), cell proliferation and differentiation in MTB H37Rv-infected MG63 cells. Furthermore, whether Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was activated by RPM-loaded BHA/PAA was explored. We found the bactec growth index of H37Rv was significantly inhibited by RPM-loaded BHA/PAA. The MTT assay showed that RPM-loaded BHA/PAA could promote the cell proliferation of H37Rv-infected MG63 cells, as determined by MTT assay. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osteocalcin (OCN) was examined by commercial kit and Western blot analysis to determine the effect of RPM-loaded BHA/PAA on MTB H37Rv-infected MG63 cell differentiation. It was revealed that RPM-loaded BHA/PAA could promote cell differentiation of H37Rv-infected MG63 cells. Furthermore, we found the expression of Wnt1, LDL receptor related protein 6 (Lrp6) and β-catenin was significantly increased in H37Rv-infected MG63 cells following treatment with RPM-loaded BHA/PAA, as determined by Western blot analysis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that RPM-loaded BHA/PAA has an effective activity against MTB. RPM-loaded BHA/PAA promoted cell proliferation and cell differentiation of H37Rv-infected MG63 cells. Wnt/β-catenin signaling could be activated by RPM-loaded BHA/PAA in MG63 cells infected with H37Rv. This study demonstrated the potential value of RPM-loaded BHA/PAA in treating bone and joint TB, and suggested Wnt/β-catenin signaling may be an important pathway underlying its function.