A hierarchical vascularized engineered bone inspired by intramembranous ossification for mandibular regeneration

Mandibular defects caused by injuries,tumors,and infections are common and can severely affect mandibular function and the patient's appearance.However,mandible reconstruction with a mandibular bionic structure remains challenging.Inspired by the process of intramembranous ossification in mandibular development,a hierarchical vascularized engineered bone consisting of angiogenesis and osteogenesis modules has been produced.Moreover,the hierarchical vascular network and bone structure generated by these hierarchical vascularized engineered bone modules match the particular anatomical structure of the mandible.The ultra-tough polyion complex has been used as the basic scaffold for hierarchical vascularized engineered bone for ensuring better reconstruction of mandible function.According to the results of in vivo experiments,the bone regenerated using hierarchical vascularized engineered bone is similar to the natural mandibular bone in terms of morphology and genomics.The sonic hedgehog signaling pathway is specifically activated in hierarchical vascularized engineered bone,indicating that the new bone in hierarchical vascularized engineered bone underwent a process of intramembranous ossification identical to that of mandible development.Thus,hierarchical vascularized engineered bone has a high potential for clinical application in mandibular defect reconstruction.Moreover,the concept based on developmental processes and bionic structures provides an effective strategy for tissue regeneration.

Transfect bone marrow stromal cells with pcDNA3.1-VEGF to construct tissue engineered bone in defect repair

Background We previously showed that nano-hydroxyapatite/carboxymethyl chitosan （n-Ha/CMCS） displayed excellent mechanical properties, good degradation rates and exceptional biocompatibility, with negligible toxicity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the same composite with vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）transfected bone marrow stromal cells （BMSCs） in a rabbit radial defect model.

Three-dimensional printed tissue engineered bone for canine mandibular defects

Background:Three-dimensional(3D)printed tissue engineered bone was used to repair the bone tissue defects in the oral and maxillofacial(OMF)region of experimental dogs.Material and methods:Canine bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)were obtained from 9 male Beagle dogs and in vitro cultured for osteogenic differentiation.The OMF region was scanned for 3D printed surgical guide plate and mold by ProJet1200 high-precision printer using implant materials followed sintering at 1250℃.The tissue engineered bones was co-cultured with BASCs for 2 or 8 d.The cell scaffold composite was placed in the defects and fixed in 9 dogs in 3 groups.Postoperative CT and/or micro-CT scans were performed to observe the osteogenesis and material degradation.Results:BMSCs were cultured with osteogenic differentiation in the second generation(P2).The nanoporous hydroxyapatite implant was made using the 3D printing mold with the white porous structure and the hard texture.BMSCs with osteogenic induction were densely covered with the surface of the material after co-culture and ECM was secreted to form calcium-like crystal nodules.The effect of the tissue engineered bone on the in vivo osteogenesis ability was no significant difference between 2 d and 8 d of the compositing time.Conclusions:The tissue-engineered bone was constructed by 3D printing mold and hightemperature sintering to produce nanoporous hydroxyapatite scaffolds,which repair in situ bone defects in experimental dogs.The time of compositing for tissue engineered bone was reduced from 8 d to 2 d without the in vivo effect.

Magnesium-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds:A novel frontier in bone tissue engineering

Nonunion represents a crucial challenge in orthopedic medicine,demanding innovative solutions beyond the scope of traditional bone grafting methods.Among the various strategies available,magnesium(Mg)implants have been recognized for their biocompatibility and biodegradability.However,their susceptibility to rapid corrosion and degradation has garnered notable research interest in bone tissue engineering(BTE),particularly in the development of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds.These scaffolds gradually release Mg2+,which enhances immunomodulation,osteogenesis,and angiogenesis,thus facilitating effective bone regeneration.This review presents myriad fabrication techniques used to create Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds,including electrospinning,three-dimensional printing,and sol-gel synthesis.Despite these advancements,the application of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds faces challenges such as controlling the degradation rate of Mg and ensuring mechanical stability.These limitations highlight the necessity for ongoing research aimed at refining fabrication techniques to better regulate the physicochemical and osteogenic properties of scaffolds.This review provides insights into the potential of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds for BTE and the challenges that need to be addressed for their successful translation into clinical applications.

3D-printed Mg-1Ca/polycaprolactone composite scaffolds with promoted bone regeneration

In bone tissue engineering,polycaprolactone(PCL)is a promising material with good biocompatibility,but its poor degradation rate,mechanical strength,and osteogenic properties limit its application.In this study,we developed an Mg-1Ca/polycaprolactone(Mg-1Ca/PCL)composite scaffolds to overcome these limitations.We used a melt blending method to prepare Mg-1Ca/PCL composites with Mg-1Ca alloy powder mass ratios of 5,10,and 20 wt%.Porous scaffolds with controlled macro-and microstructure were printed using the fused deposition modeling method.We explored the mechanical strength,biocompatibility,osteogenesis performance,and molecular mechanism of the Mg-1Ca/PCL composites.The 5 and 10 wt%Mg-1Ca/PCL composites were found to have good biocompatibility.Moreover,they promoted the mechanical strength,proliferation,adhesion,and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells(hBMSCs)of pure PCL.In vitro degradation experiments revealed that the composite material stably released Mg_(2)+ions for a long period;it formed an apatite layer on the surface of the scaffold that facilitated cell adhesion and growth.Microcomputed tomography and histological analysis showed that both 5 and 10 wt%Mg-1Ca/PCL composite scaffolds promoted bone regeneration bone defects.Our results indicated that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was involved in the osteogenic effect.Therefore,Mg-1Ca/PCL composite scaffolds are expected to be a promising bone regeneration material for clinical application.Statement of significance:Bone tissue engineering scaffolds have promising applications in the regeneration of critical-sized bone defects.However,there remain many limitations in the materials and manufacturing methods used to fabricate scaffolds.This study shows that the developed Ma-1Ca/PCL composites provides scaffolds with suitable degradation rates and enhanced boneformation capabilities.Furthermore,the fused deposition modeling method allows precise control of the macroscopic morphology and microscopic porosity of the scaffold.The obtained porous scaffolds can significantly promote the regeneration of bone defects.

In vitro investigations on the effects of graphene and graphene oxide on polycaprolactone bone tissue engineering scaffolds

Polycaprolactone(PCL)scaffolds that are produced through additive manufacturing are one of the most researched bone tissue engineering structures in the field.Due to the intrinsic limitations of PCL,carbon nanomaterials are often investigated to reinforce the PCL scaffolds.Despite several studies that have been conducted on carbon nanomaterials,such as graphene(G)and graphene oxide(GO),certain challenges remain in terms of the precise design of the biological and nonbiological properties of the scaffolds.This paper addresses this limitation by investigating both the nonbiological(element composition,surface,degradation,and thermal and mechanical properties)and biological characteristics of carbon nanomaterial-reinforced PCL scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.Results showed that the incorporation of G and GO increased surface properties(reduced modulus and wettability),material crystallinity,crystallization temperature,and degradation rate.However,the variations in compressive modulus,strength,surface hardness,and cell metabolic activity strongly depended on the type of reinforcement.Finally,a series of phenomenological models were developed based on experimental results to describe the variations of scaffold’s weight,fiber diameter,porosity,and mechanical properties as functions of degradation time and carbon nanomaterial concentrations.The results presented in this paper enable the design of three-dimensional(3D)bone scaffolds with tuned properties by adjusting the type and concentration of different functional fillers.

Bone Regeneration Based on Tissue Engineering Conceptions – A 21st Century Perspective

The role of Bone Tissue Engineering in the field of Regenerative Medicine has been the topic of substantial research over the past two decades. Technological advances have improved orthopaedic implants and surgical techniques for bone reconstruction. However, improvements in surgical techniques to reconstruct bone have been limited by the paucity of autologous materials available and donor site morbidity. Recent advances in the development of biomaterials have provided attractive alternatives to bone grafting expanding the surgical options for restoring the form and function of injured bone. Specifically, novel bioactive （second generation） biomaterials have been developed that are characterised by controlled action and reaction to the host tissue environment, whilst exhibiting controlled chemical breakdown and resorption with an ultimate replacement by regenerating tissue. Future generations of biomaterials （third generation） are designed to be not only osteo- conductive but also osteoinductive, i.e. to stimulate regeneration of host tissues by combining tissue engineer- ing and in situ tissue regeneration methods with a focus on novel applications. These techniques will lead to novel possibilities for tissue regeneration and repair. At present, tissue engineered constructs that may find future use as bone grafts for complex skeletal defects, whether from post-traumatic, degenerative, neoplastic or congenital/developmental ＂origin＂ require osseous reconstruction to ensure structural and functional integrity. Engineering functional bone using combinations of cells, scaffolds and bioactive factors is a promising strategy and a particular feature for future development in the area of hybrid materials which are able to exhibit suitable biomimetic and mechanical properties. This review will discuss the state of the art in this field and what we can expect from future generations of bone regeneration concepts.

Study on β-TCP Coated Porous Mg as a Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffold Material

Three-dimensional honeycomb-structured magnesium （Mg） scaffolds with interconnected pores of accurately controlled pore size and porosity were fabricated by laser perforation technique. Biodegradable and bioactiveβ- tricalcium phosphate （β-TCP） coatings were prepared on and the biodegradation mechanism was simply evaluated the porous Mg to further improve its biocompatibility, in vitro. It was found that the mechanical properties of this type of porous Mg significantly depended on its porosity. Elastic modulus and compressive strength similar to human bones could be obtained for the porous Mg with porosity of 42.6%-51%. It was observed that the human osteosarcoma cells （UMR106） were well adhered and proliferated on the surface of the β- TCP coated porous Mg, which indicates that theβ-TCP coated porous Mg is promising to be a bone tissue engineering scaffold material.

Calcium phosphate cements for bone engineering and their biological properties

Calcium phosphate cements （CPCs） are frequently used to repair bone defects. Since their discovery in the 1980s, extensive research has been conducted to improve their properties, and emerging evidence supports their increased application in bone tissue engineering. Much effort has been made to enhance the biological performance of CPCs, including their biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, biodegradability, bioactivity, and interactions with cells. This review article focuses on the major recent developments in CPCs, including 3D printing, injectability, stem cell delivery, growth factor and drug delivery, and pre- vascularization of CPC scaffolds via co-culture and tri-culture techniques to enhance angiogenesis and osteogenesis.

Biologically Inspired Self-assembling Synthesis of Bone-like Nano-hydroxyapatite/PLGA-(PEG-ASP)_n Composite: A New Biomimetic Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffold Material

A new biomimetic bone tissue engineering scaffold material, nano-HAI PLGA-（ PEG-Asp ）n composite, was synthesized by a biologically inspired self-assembling approach. A novel biodegradable PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ）n copolymer with pendant amine functional groups and enhanced hydrophilicity woo synthesized by bulk ring-opening copolymerization by DL-lactide（ DLLA） and glycolide（ GA ） with Aspartic acid （ Asp ）-Polyethylene glycol（PEG） alt-prepolymer. A Three-dimensional, porous scaffold of the PLGA-（ PEG- Asp）n copolymer was fabricated by a solvent casting , particulate leaching process. The scaffold woo then incubated in modified simulated body fluid （naSBF）. Growth of HA nanocrystals on the inner pore surfaces of the porous scaffold is confirmed by calcium ion binding analyses, SEM , mass increooe meoourements and quantification of phosphate content within scaffolds. SEM analysis demonstrated the nucleation and growth of a continuous bonelike, low crystalline carbonated HA nanocrystals on the inner pore surfaces of the PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ）n scaffolds. The amount of calcium binding, total mass and the mass of phosphate on experimental PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ） n scaffolds at different incubation times in mSBF was significantly greater than that of control PLGA scaffolds. This nano-HA/ PLGA-（ PEG- Asp ）n composite stunts some features of natural bone both in main composition and hierarchical microstrueture. The Asp- PEG alt-prepolymer modified PleA copolymer provide a controllable high surface density and distribution of anionic functional groups which would enhance nucleation and growth of bonelike mineral following exposure to mSBF. This biomimetic treatment provides a simple method for surface functionalization and sabsequent mineral nucleation and self-oosembling on bodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Ectopic Bone Formation in vivo Induced by a Novel Synthetic Peptide Derived from BMP-2 Using Porous Collagen Scaffolds

To investigate the osteoinductive and ectopicly osteogenic effects of a novel peptide P24 derived from bone morphogenetic protein 2 （BMP2）, biodegradable collagen scaffolds （CS） were used to load BMP-2-derived peptide solutions with different concentrations （0.4 mg peptide/CS, 0.1 mg peptide/CS and pure CS, respectively）, and the implants were implanted into muscular pockets on the back of Wistar rats. Radiographs and histological analysis were performed to evaluate the ectopic bone effects. Active ectopic bone formation was seen in both groups containing the peptide at different concentration （0.4 mg and 0.1 mg）, whereas no bone formation and only fibrous tissue was seen in the pure CS group. The new bone formation induced by the peptide P24 displayed a dose-dependent and time-dependent efficiency. The new bone formation in the 0.4 mg peptide/CS group significantly increased than that of the 0.1 mg peptide/CS group. This novel BMP-2-derived peptide had excellent osteoinductive and ectopicly osteogenic properties which were similar to those of BMP2.

Experimental Study on Allogenic Decalcified Bone Matrix as Carrier for Bone Tissue Engineering

The biocompatibility and osteogenic activity of allogenic decalcified bone matrix (DBM) used as a carrier for bone tissue engineering were studied. Following the method described by Urist, allogenic DBM was made. In vitro, DBM and bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) from rabbits were co-cultured for 3-7 days and subjected to HE staining, and a series of histomorphological observations were performed under phase-contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vivo the mixture of DBM/BMSC co-cultured for 3 days was planted into one side of muscules sacrospinalis of rabbits, and the DBM without BMSC was planted into other side as control. Specimens were collected at postoperative week 1, 2 and 4, and subjected to HE staining, and observed under SEM. The results showed during culture in vitro, the BMSCs adherent to the wall of DBM grew, proliferated and had secretive activity. The in vivo experiment revealed that BMSCs and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in the perivascular region invaded gradually and proliferated together in DBM/BMSC group, and colony-forming units of chondrocytes were found. Osteoblasts, trabecular bone and medullary cavity appeared. The inflammatory reaction around muscles almost disappeared at the second weeks. In pure DBM group, the similar changes appeared from the surface of the DBM to center, and the volume of total regenerate bones was less than the DBM/BMSC group at the same time. The results indicated that the mixture of DBM and BMSC had good biocompatibility and ectopic induced osteogenic activity.

Bone tissue engineering via nanostructured calcium phosphate biomaterials and stem cells

Tissue engineering is promising to meet the increasing need for bone regeneration. Nanostructured calcium phosphate （CAP） biomaterials/scaffolds are of special interest as they share chemical/crystallographic similarities to inorganic components of bone. Three applications of nano-CaP are discussed in this review： nanostructured calcium phosphate cement （CPC）; nano-CaP composites; and nano-CaP coatings. The interactions between stem cells and nano-CaP are highlighted, including cell attachment, orientation/ morphology, differentiation and in vivo bone regeneration. Several trends can be seen： （i） nano-CaP biomaterials support stem cell attachment/proliferation and induce osteogenic differentiation, in some cases even without osteogenic supplements; （ii） the influence of nano-CaP surface patterns on cell alignment is not prominent due to non-uniform distribution of nano-crystals; （iii） nano-CaP can achieve better bone regeneration than conventional CaP biomaterials; （iv） combining stem cells with nano-CaP accelerates bone regeneration, the effect of which can be further enhanced by growth factors; and （v） cell microencapsulation in nano-CaP scaffolds is promising for bone tissue engineering. These understandings would help researchers to further uncover the underlying mechanisms and interactions in nano-CaP stem cell constructs in vitro and in vivo, tailor nano-CaP composite construct design and stem cell type selection to enhance cell function and bone regeneration, and translate laboratory findings to clinical treatments.

Application of platelet-rich plasma with stem cells in bone and periodontal tissue engineering

Presently, there is a high paucity of bone grafts in the United States and worldwide. Regenerating bone is of prime concern due to the current demand of bone grafts and the increasing number of diseases causing bone loss. Autogenous bone is the present gold standard of bone regeneration. However, disadvantages like donor site morbidity and its decreased availability limit its use. Even allografts and synthetic grafting materials have their own limitations. As certain specific stem cells can be directed to differentiate into an osteoblastic lineage in the presence of growth factors(GFs), it makes stem cells the ideal agents for bone regeneration.Furthermore, platelet-rich plasma(PRP), which can be easily isolated from whole blood, is often used for bone regeneration, wound healing and bone defect repair. When stem cells are combined with PRP in the presence of GFs, they are able to promote osteogenesis. This review provides in-depth knowledge regarding the use of stem cells and PRP in vitro, in vivo and their application in clinical studies in the future.

Exploring the interconnectivity of biomimetic hierarchical porous Mg scaffolds for bone tissue engineering:Effects of pore size distribution on mechanical properties,degradation behavior and cell migration ability

Interconnectivity is the key characteristic of bone tissue engineering scaffold modulating cell migration,blood vessels invasion and transport of nutrient and waste.However,efforts and understanding of the interconnectivity of porous Mg is limited due to the diverse architectures of pore struts and pore size distribution of Mg scaffold systems.In this work,biomimetic hierarchical porous Mg scaffolds with tailored interconnectivity as well as pore size distribution were prepared by template replication of infiltration casting.Mg scaffold with better interconnectivity showed lower mechanical strength.Enlarging interconnected pores would enhance the interconnectivity of the whole scaffold and reduce the change of ion concentration,pH value and osmolality of the degradation microenvironment due to the lower specific surface area.Nevertheless,the degradation rates of five tested Mg scaffolds were no different because of the same geometry of strut unit.Direct cell culture and evaluation of cell density at both sides of four typical Mg scaffolds indicated that cell migration through hierarchical porous Mg scaffolds could be enhanced by not only bigger interconnected pore size but also larger main pore size.In summary,design of interconnectivity in terms of pore size distribution could regulate mechanical strength,microenvironment in cell culture condition and cell migration potential,and beyond that it shows great potential for personalized therapy which could facilitate the regeneration process.

Mechanical Stimulus Inhibits the Growth of a Bone Tissue Model Cultured In Vitro

Objectives To construct the cancellous bone explant model and a method of culturing these bone tissues in vitro, and to investigate the effect of mechanical load on growth of cancellous bone tissue in vtro. Methods Cancellous bone were extracted from rabbit femoral head and cut into I-ram-thick and 8-ram-diameter slices under sterile conditions. HE staining and scanning electron microscopy were employed to identify the histomorphology of the model after being cultured with a new dynamic load and circulating perfusion bioreactor system for 0, 3, 5, and 7 days, respectively. We built a three-dimensional model using microCT and analyzed the loading effects using finite element analysis. The model was subjected to mechanical load of 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 με respectively for 30 minutes per day. After 5 days of continuous stimuli, the activities of alkaline phosphatase （AKP） and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase （TRAP） were detected. Apoptosis was analyzed by DNA ladder detection and caspase-3/8/9 activity detection. Results After being cultured for 3, 5, and 7 days, the bone explant model grew well. HE staining showed the apparent nucleus in cells at the each indicated time, and electron microscope revealed the living cells in the bone tissue. The activities of AKP and TRAP in the bone explant model under mechanical load of 3000 and 4000 με were significantly lower than those in the unstressed bone tissues （all P〈0.05）. DNA ladders were seen in the bone tissue under 3000 and 4000με mechanical load. Moreover, there was significant enhancement in the activities of caspase-3/8/9 in the mechanical stress group of 3000 and 4000 με （all P〈0.05）. Conclusions The cancellous bone explant model extracted from the rabbit femoral head could be alive at least for 7 days in the dynamic load and circulating perfusion bioreactor system, however, pathological mechanical load could affect the bone tissue growth by apoptosis in vitro. The differentiation of osteobiasts and osteoclasts might be inhibited after the model is stimulated by mechanical load of 3000 and 4000 με.

Adipose tissue in bone regeneration-stem cell source and beyond

Adipose tissue(AT)is recognized as a complex organ involved in major homeostatic body functions,such as food intake,energy balance,immunomodulation,development and growth,and functioning of the reproductive organs.The role of AT in tissue and organ homeostasis,repair and regeneration is increasingly recognized.Different AT compartments(white AT,brown AT and bone marrow AT)and their interrelation with bone metabolism will be presented.AT-derived stem cell populations-adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and pluripotentlike stem cells.Multilineage differentiating stress-enduring and dedifferentiated fat cells can be obtained in relatively high quantities compared to other sources.Their role in different strategies of bone and fracture healing tissue engineering and cell therapy will be described.The current use of AT-or AT-derived stem cell populations for fracture healing and bone regenerative strategies will be presented,as well as major challenges in furthering bone regenerative strategies to clinical settings.

3D Nanocomposite Hydrogel Scaffolds Fabricated by Rapid Prototyping for Bone Tissue Engineering

Colloidal gels made of oppositely charged nanoparticles are a novel class of hydrogels and can exhibit pseudoplastic behavior which will enable them to mold easily into specific shapes.These moldable gels can be used as building blocks to self-assemble into integral scaffolds from bottom to up through electrostatic forces.However,they are too weak to maintain scaffold morphology just depending on interparticle interactions such as Van der Waals attraction and electrostatic forces especially for bone tissue engineering.In this study,oppositely charged gelatin nanoparticles were firstly prepared by two-step desolvation method,followed by the mixture with water to form colloid gels.To solve the problem of weak mechanical performance of colloid gels, gelatin macromolecules were introduced into the prepared gels to form blend gels.The blend gels can be easily processed into three-dimensional( 3D) porous scaffolds via motor assisted microsyringe( MAM)system,a nozzle-based rapid prototyping technology,under mild conditions.After fabrication the scaffolds were crosslinked by glutaraldehyde( GA,25% solution in water by weight),then the crosslinked gelatin macromolecules network could form to improve the mechanical properties of colloid gels.The average particle size and zeta potential of gelatin nanoparticles were measured by NanoZS instrument.The morphology and microstructures of scaffolds were characterized by macroscopic images.The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were studied by a universal material testing machine.

Reduced graphene oxide-grafted bovine serum albumin/bredigite nanocomposites with high mechanical properties and excellent osteogenic bioactivity for bone tissue engineering

The optimization of the scaffolds to provide a suitable matrix and accelerate the regeneration process is vital for bone tissue engineering.However,poor mechanical and biological characteristics remain the primary challenges that must be addressed.For example,although bredigite(Br)has shown great potential for application in bone tissue engineering,it easily fails in replacement.In the present work,these challenges are addressed by reinforcing the Br matrix with nanosheets of graphene oxide(rGO)that have been reduced by bovine serum albumin(BSA)in order to enhance the mechanical properties and biological behavior.The reduction of graphene oxide by BSA improves the water stability of the nanosheets and provides an electrostatic interaction between theBSA-rGO nanosheets and theBr particles.The high thermal conductivity of theBSA-rGO nanosheets decreases the porosity of the Br by transferring heat to the core of the tablet.Furthermore,the addition of BSA-rGO nanosheets into the Br matrix enhances the adhesion of G-292 cells on the surface of the tablets.These findings suggest that the tablet consisting of BSA-rGO-reinforced Br has encouraging potential for application in bone tissue engineering.