Mesoporous Bioglass/Silk Fibroin Scaffolds as a Drug Delivery System: Fabrication, Drug Loading and Release in vitro and Repair Calvarial Defects in vivo

The potential of combining bioactive glass（MBG） and silk fibroin（SF） together as a new drug delivery system was evaluated. The three-dimensional porous scaffolds were selected as the form of SF, and sol-gel method was adopted to fabricate MBG in this study. The characteristic of the synthesized material was measured by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro evaluation of drug delivery was carried out in terms of drug loading and drug release. And aspirin was chosen as the drug for scaffolds to carry out in vitro tests and repair BALB/C mice calvarial defects. Bone formation was examined by microcomputed tomography. The experimental results show that MBG/silk scaffolds have better physiochemical properties compared with silk scaffolds. In comparison to pure silk scaffolds, MBG/silk scaffolds enhance the drug loading efficiency, release rate in vitro and promote bone regeneration in vivo. Thus we conclude that MBG/silk scaffold is a more efficient drug delivery system than pure silk scaffolds.

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor sertraline inhibits bone healing in a calvarial defect model

Bone wound healing is a highly dynamic and precisely controlled process through which damaged bone undergoes repair and complete regeneration. External factors can alter this process, leading to delayed or failed bone wound healing. The findings of recent studies suggest that the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) can reduce bone mass, precipitate osteoporotic fractures and increase the rate of dental implant failure. With 10% of Americans prescribed antidepressants, the potential of SSRIs to impair bone healing may adversely affect millions of patients’ ability to heal after sustaining trauma. Here, we investigate the effect of the SSRI sertraline on bone healing through pre-treatment with(10 mg·kg-1sertraline in drinking water, n = 26) or without(control, n = 30) SSRI followed by the creation of a 5-mm calvarial defect. Animals were randomized into three surgical groups:(a) empty/sham,(b) implanted with a DermaMatrix scaffold soak-loaded with sterile PBS or(c) DermaMatrix soak-loaded with542.5 ng BMP2. SSRI exposure continued until sacrifice in the exposed groups at 4 weeks after surgery. Sertraline exposure resulted in decreased bone healing with significant decreases in trabecular thickness, trabecular number and osteoclast dysfunction while significantly increasing mature collagen fiber formation. These findings indicate that sertraline exposure can impair bone wound healing through disruption of bone repair and regeneration while promoting or defaulting to scar formation within the defect site.

Regeneration of critical-sized defects, in a goat model, using a dextrin-based hydrogel associated with granular synthetic bone substitute

The development of injectable bone substitutes(IBS)have obtained great importance in the bone re-generation field,as a strategy to reach hardly accessible defects using minimally invasive techniques and able to fit to irregular topographies.In this scenario,the association of injectable hydrogels and bone graft granules is emerging as a well-established trend.Particularly,in situ forming hydrogels have arisen as a new IBS generation.An in situ forming and injectable dextrin-based hydrogel(HG)was developed,aiming to act as a carrier of granular bone substitutes and bioactive agents.In this work,the HG was associated to a granular bone substitute(Bonelike)and implanted in goat critical-sized calvarial defects(14mm)for 3,6 and 12weeks.The results showed that HG improved the han-dling properties of the Bonelike granules and did not affect its osteoconductive features,neither impairing the bone regener ation process.Human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells from the umbilical cord,extracellular matrix hydrolysates and the pro-angiogenic peptide LLKKK18 were also combined with the IBS.These bioactive agents did not enhance the new bone formation significantly under the conditions tested,according to micro-computed tomography and histological analysis.

Effect of covalent-binding modes of osteogenic-related peptides with artificial carriers on their biological activities in vivo

Covalent binding between bioactive substances and materials in different ways can significantly improve the bone inductivity and biological activity of bone repair materials.However,there is a lack of systematic understanding of how these binding modes affect biological activities of the active substances.In this study,four kinds of functionalized Multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)were prepared,ensuring the same grafting rate of different functional groups.Subsequently,two kinds of osteogenic-related peptides,bone morphogenetic protein-2 mimicking peptides and osteogenic growth mimicking peptides,were covalently bound to functionalized MWCNTs,ensuring the same molar mass of peptides bound to different functionalized MWCNTs in this process.Then the same amount of functionalized MWC-NTs/Peptides composites were introduced into the scaffolds,and through the ectopic osteogenesis model in rats and calvarial defect model in rabbits,ectopic osteogenesis and bone repair ability of the composites were analyzed.Furthermore,the effects of different covalent binding modes on peptide-induced osteogenesis and bone repair were studied.The results showed that the negative influencing trend of different covalent binding modes of osteogenic-related peptides with artificial carriers on their biological activities was in the order as follows:amide binding(carboxyl)>silane coupling>dopamine bind-ing>amide binding(amino),whose mechanism might be mainly that the covalent binding of peptides with different functional groups resulted in different charges.We believe that the results of this study have important guiding significance for the research and development of bone repair materials covalently bound with bioactive substances.

Exosome-functionalized magnesium-organic framework-based scaffoldswith osteogenic, angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties foraccelerated bone regeneration

Exosomes derived from human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs-Exos) have shown potential as an effectivetherapeutic tool for repairing bone defects. Although metal-organic framework (MOF) scaffolds are promisingstrategies for bone tissue regeneration, their potential use for exosome loading remains unexplored. In this study,motivated by the potential advantages of hADSCs-Exos and Mg-GA MOF, we designed and synthesized anexosome-functionalized cell-free PLGA/Mg-GA MOF (PLGA/Exo-Mg-GA MOF) scaffold, taking using of thebenefits of hADSCs-Exos, Mg2+, and gallic acid (GA) to construct unique nanostructural interfaces to enhanceosteogenic, angiogenic and anti-inflammatory capabilities simultaneously. Our in vitro work demonstrated thebeneficial effects of PLGA/Exo-Mg-GA MOF composite scaffolds on the osteogenic effects in human bonemarrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) and angiogenic effects in human umbilical endothelial cells(HUVECs). Slowly released hADSCs-Exos from composite scaffolds were phagocytosed by co-cultured cells,stabilized the bone graft environment, ensured blood supply, promoted osteogenic differentiation, and acceleratedbone reconstruction. Furthermore, our in vivo experiments with rat calvarial defect model showed thatPLGA/Exo-Mg-GA MOF scaffolds promoted new bone formation and satisfactory osseointegration. Overall, weprovide valuable new insights for designing exosome-coated nanocomposite scaffolds with enhanced osteogenesisproperty.

Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels with tobacco mosaic virus containing cell adhesive peptide induce bone repair in normal and osteoporotic rats

Tobacco mosaic virus(TMV)has been studied as a multi-functional agent for bone tissue engineering.An osteo-inductive effect of wild-type TMV has been reported,as it can significantly enhance the bone differentiation potential of bone marrow stromal cells both on a two-dimensional substrate and in a three-dimensional(3D)hydrogel system.A TMV mutant(TMV-RGD1)was created which featured the adhesion peptide arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid(RGD),the most common peptide motif responsible for cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix,on the surface of the virus particle to enhance the bio-functionality of the scaffold material.We hypothesised that the incorporation of either wild-type TMV or TMV-RGD1 in the 3D hydrogel scaffold would induce bone healing in critical size defects of the cranial segmental bone.We have previously tested the virus-functionalised scaffolds,in vitro,with a hyaluronic acid-based system as an in-situ hydrogel platform for 3D cell encapsulation,culture,and differentiation.The results of these experiments suggested the potential of the virus-functionalised hydrogel to promote in vitro stem cell differentiation.The hydrogel-forming system we employed was shown to be safe and biocompatible in vivo.Here,we further explored the physiological responses regarding bone regeneration of a calvarial defect in both normal and osteoporotic ovariectomized rat models.Our results,based on histological analysis in both animal models,suggested that both wild-type TMV and TMV-RGD1 functionalised hydrogels could accelerate bone regeneration,without systemic toxicity,evaluated by blood counts.New bone formation was intensified by the incorporation of the RGD-mutant viral particles.This finding increased the potential for use of the rodshaped plant virus as a platform for the addition of powerful biofunctionality for tissue engineering applications.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use of the Zhenjiang Affiliated First People’s Hospital affiliated to Jiangsu University.

Next-generation resorbable polymer scaffolds with surface-precipitated calcium phosphate coatings

Next-generation synthetic bone graft therapies will most likely be composed of resorbable polymers in combination with bioactive components.In this article,we continue our exploration of E1001(1k),a tyrosine-derived polycarbonate,as an orthopedic implant material.Specifically,we use E1001(1k),which is degradable,nontoxic,and osteoconductive,to fabricate porous bone regeneration scaffolds that were enhanced by two different types of calcium phosphate(CP)coatings:in one case,pure dicalcium phosphate dihydrate was precipitated on the scaffold surface and throughout its porous structure(E1001(1k)+CP).In the other case,bone matrix minerals(BMM)such as zinc,manganese and fluoride were co-precipitated within the dicalcium phosphate dihydrate coating(E1001(1k)+BMM).These scaffold compositions were compared against each other and against ChronOS(Synthes USA,West Chester,PA,USA),a clinically used bone graft substitute(BGS),which served as the positive control in our experimental design.This BGS is composed of poly(lactide co-e-caprolactone)and beta-tricalcium phosphate.We used the established rabbit calvaria critical-sized defect model to determine bone regeneration within the defect for each of the three scaffold compositions.New bone formation was determined after 2,4,6,8 and 12 weeks by micro-computerized tomography(mCT)and histology.The experimental tyrosine-derived polycarbonate,enhanced with dicalcium phosphate dihydrate,E1001(1k)+CP,supported significant bone formation within the defects and was superior to the same scaffold containing a mix of BMM,E1001(1k)+BMM.The comparison with the commercially available BGS was complicated by the large variability in bone formation observed for the laboratory preparations of E1001(1k)scaffolds.At all time points,there was a trend for E1001(1k)+CP to be superior to the commercial BGS.However,only at the 6-week time point did this trend reach statistical significance.Detailed analysis of the μCT data suggested an increase in bone formation from 2 through 12 weeks in implant sites treated with E1001(1k)+CP.At 2 and 4 weeks post-implantation,bone formation occurred at the interface where the E1001(1k)+CP scaffold was in contact with the bone borders of the implant site.Thereafter,during weeks 6,8 and 12 bone formation progressed throughout the E1001(1k)+CP test implants.This trend was not observed with E1001(1k)+BMM scaffolds or the clinically used BGS.Our results suggest that E1001(1k)+CP should be tested further for osteoregenerative applications.