Bone regeneration materials and their application over 20 years: A bibliometric study and systematic review

Bone Regeneration with Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Scaffolds: Systematic Review of Human Clinical Trials

The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of stem cells in scaffolds in the treatment of bone deficits, in regard of bone regeneration, safety, rehabilitation and quality of life in humans. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020. A systematic search was conducted in three search engines and two registries lastly in 29-9-2022.for studies of the last 15 years. The risk of bias was assessed with RoB-2, ROBINS- I and NIH Quality of Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies with no Control group. The certainty of the results was assessed with the GRADE assessment tool. Due to heterogeneity, the results were reported in tables, graphs and narratively. The study protocol was published in PROSPERO with registration number CRD42022359049. Of the 10,091 studies retrieved, 14 were meeting the inclusion criteria, and were qualitatively analyzed. 138 patients were treated with mesenchymal stem cells in scaffolds, showing bone healing in all cases, and even with better results than the standard care. The adverse events were mild in most cases and in accordance with the surgery received. When assessed, there was a rehabilitation of the deficit and a gain in quality of life was detected. Although the heterogeneity between the studies and the small number of patients, the administration of mesenchymal stem cells in scaffolds seems safe and effective in the regeneration of bone defects. These results pave the way for the conduction of more clinical trials, with greater number of participants, with more standardized procedures.

Global Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis of Tracheal Tissue Engineering Research

The development of tracheal tissue engineering (TTE) has seen a rapid growth in recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the global status, trends, and hotspots of TTE research based on bibliometrics and visualization analysis. Publications related to TTE were retrieved and included in the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to generate knowledge maps. Six hundred fifty-five publications were identified, and the quantity of the annual publications worldwide was on the increase. International collaboration is a widespread reality. The United States led the world in the field of trachea tissue engineering, whereas University College London was the institution with the greatest contribution. In addition, Biomaterials had a great influence in this field, attracting the largest number of papers. Moreover, the topics of TTE research largely concentrated on the biomechanical scaffold preparation, the vascularization and epithelialization of scaffold, the tracheal cartilage regeneration, and the tissue-engineered tracheal transplantation. And the research on the application of decellularization and 3D printing for the construction of a tissue-engineered trachea was likely to receive more widespread attention in the future. Impact statement In recent years, tracheal tissue engineering (TTE) has experienced rapid growth. In this study, we investigated the worldwide status and trends of TTE research, and revealed the countries, institutions, journals, and authors that had made significant contributions to the field of TTE. Moreover, the possible research hotspots in the future were predicted. According to our research, researchers can gain a better understanding of the trends in this field, and stay informed of the most current research by tracking key journals, institutions, and authors.

Effect of Functionalization of Texturized Polypropylene Surface by Silanization and HBII-RGD Attachment on Response of Primary Abdominal and Vaginal Fibroblasts

Soft tissue defects, such as incisional hernia or pelvic organ prolapse, are prevalent pathologies characterized by a tissue microenvironment rich in fragile and dysfunctional fibroblasts. Precision medicine could improve their surgical repair, currently based on polymeric materials. Nonetheless, biomaterial-triggered interventions need first a better understanding of the cell-material interfaces that truly consider the patients' biology. Few tools are available to study the interactions between polymers and dysfunctional soft tissue cells in vitro. Here, we propose polypropylene (PP) as a matrix to create microscale surfaces w/wo functionalization with an HBII-RGD molecule, a fibronectin fragment modified to include an RGD sequence for promoting cell attachment and differentiation. Metal mold surfaces were roughened by shot blasting with aluminum oxide, and polypropylene plates were obtained by injection molding. HBII-RGD was covalently attached by silanization. As a proof of concept, primary abdominal and vaginal wall fasciae fibroblasts from control patients were grown on the new surfaces. Tissue-specific significant differences in cell morphology, early adhesion and cytoskeletal structure were observed. Roughness and biofunctionalization parameters exerted unique and combinatorial effects that need further investigation. We conclude that the proposed model is effective and provides a new framework to inform the design of smart materials for the treatment of clinically compromised tissues.

Synthesis Technology of Magnesium-Doped Nanometer Hydroxyapatite: A Review

Ion substitution techniques for nanoparticles have become an important neighborhood of biomedical engineering and have led to the development of innovative bioactive materials for health systems. Magnesium-doped nanohydroxyapatite (Mg-nHA) has good bone conductivity, biological activity, flexural strength, and fracture toughness due to particle doping technology, making it an ideal candidate material for biomedical applications. In this Review, we have systematically presented the synthesis methods of Mg-nHA and their application in the field of biomedical science and highlighted the pros and cons of each method. Finally, some future prospects for this important neighborhood are proposed. The purpose of this Review is to provide readers with an understanding of this new field of research on bioactive materials with innovative functions and systematically introduce the latest technologies for obtaining uniform, continuous, and morphologically diverse Mg-nHA.

Application of piezoelectric materials in the field of bone: a bibliometric analysis

In the past 4 decades, many articles have reported on the effects of the piezoelectric effect on bone formation and the research progress of piezoelectric biomaterials in orthopedics. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively evaluate all existing research and latest developments in the field of bone piezoelectricity, and to explore potential research directions in this area. To assess the overall trend in this field over the past 40 years, this study comprehensively collected literature reviews in this field using a literature retrieval program, applied bibliometric methods and visual analysis using CiteSpace and R language, and identified and investigated publications based on publication year (1984-2022), type of literature, language, country, institution, author, journal, keywords, and citation counts. The results show that the most productive countries in this field are China, the United States, and Italy. The journal with the most publications in the field of bone piezoelectricity is the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, followed by Implant Dentistry. The most productive authors are Lanceros-Méndez S, followed by Sohn D.S. Further research on the results obtained leads to the conclusion that the research direction of this field mainly includes piezoelectric surgery, piezoelectric bone tissue engineering scaffold, manufacturing artificial cochleae for hearing loss patients, among which the piezoelectric bone tissue engineering scaffold is the main research direction in this field. The piezoelectric materials involved in this direction mainly include polyhydroxybutyrate valerate, PVDF, and BaTiO3.

Evaluation of Bone Regenerative Capacity in Rabbit Femoral Defect Using Thermally Disinfected Bone Human Femoral Head Combined with Platelet-Rich Plasma, Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2, and Zoledronic Acid

This research aimed to assess the effect of bone allograft combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), and zoledronic acid (Zol) on bone formation. A total of 96 rabbits were used, and femoral bone defects (5 mm) were created. The rabbits were divided into four groups: (1) bone allograft with PRP (AG + PRP), (2) bone allograft with rhBMP-2 5 μg (AG + BMP-2), (3) bone allograft with Zol 5 μg (AG + Zol), and (4) bone allograft (AG). A histopathological examination was performed to evaluate bone defect healing after 14, 30, and 60 days. The new bone formation and neovascularization inside the bone allograft was significantly greater in the AG + PRP group compared to AG and AG + Zol groups after 14 and 30 days (p < 0.001). The use of bone allograft with rhBMP-2 induced higher bone formation compared to AG and AG + Zol groups on days 14 and 30 (p < 0.001), but excessive osteoclast activity was observed on day 60. The local co-administration of Zol with a heat-treated allograft inhibits allograft resorption as well as new bone formation at all periods. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PRP and rhBMP-2, combined with a Marburg bone allograft, can significantly promote bone formation in the early stage of bone defect healing.

Bone Morphogenic Protein and Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Regenerate Bone in Calvarial Defects: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The use of bone morphogenic protein and mesenchymal stem cells has shown promise in promoting bone regeneration in calvarial defects. However, a systematic review of the available literature is needed to evaluate the efficacy of this approach.

METHODS

We comprehensively searched electronic databases using MeSH terms related to skull defects, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and bone morphogenic proteins. Eligible studies included animal studies that used BMP therapy and mesenchymal stem cells to promote bone regeneration in calvarial defects. Reviews, conference articles, book chapters, and non-English language studies were excluded. Two independent investigators conducted the search and data extraction.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies published between 2010 and 2022 met our inclusion criteria after a full-text review of the forty-five records found in the search. Eight of the 23 studies used mice as models, while 15 used rats. The most common mesenchymal stem cell was bone marrow-derived, followed by adipose-derived. BMP-2 was the most popular. Stem cells were embedded in Scaffold (13), Transduction (7), and Transfection (3), and they were delivered BMP to cells. Each treatment used 2 × 10⁴-1 × 10⁷ mesenchymal stem cells, averaging 2.26 × 10⁶. Most BMP-transduced MSC studies used lentivirus.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review examined BMP and MSC synergy in biomaterial scaffolds or alone. BMP therapy and mesenchymal stem cells in calvarial defects, alone, or with a scaffold regenerated bone. This method treats skull defects in clinical trials. The best scaffold material, therapeutic dosage, administration method, and long-term side effects need further study.

Preparation of Collagen/Hydroxyapatite Composites Using the Alternate Immersion Method and Evaluation of the Cranial Bone-Forming Capability of Composites Complexed with Acidic Gelatin and b-FGF

Bone-substitute materials are essential in dental implantology. We prepared collagen (Col)/hydroxyapatite (Hap)/acidic gelatin (AG)/basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) constructs with enhanced bone-forming capability. The Col/Hap apatite composites were prepared by immersing Col sponges alternately in calcium and phosphate ion solutions five times, for 20 and 60 min, respectively. Then, the sponges were heated to 56 °C for 48 h. Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the Col/Hap composites contained poorly crystalline Hap precipitates on the Col matrix. Col/Hap composite granules were infiltrated by AG, freeze-dried, and immersed in b-FGF solution. The wet quaternary constructs were implanted in rat cranial bone defects for 8 weeks, followed by soft X-ray measurements and histological analysis. Animal studies have shown that the constructs moderately increase bone formation in cranial bone defects. We found that an alternate immersion time of 20 min led to the greatest bone formation (p < 0.05). Constructs placed inside defects slightly extend the preexisting bone from the defect edges and lead to the formation of small island-like bones inside the defect, followed by disappearance of the constructs. The combined use of Col, Hap, AG, and b-FGF might bring about novel bone-forming biomaterials.