Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.2
3.9
Journals
Biomimetics
Special Issues
Biomimetic Strategies to Enhance Bone Tissue Healing, Remodeling and Regeneration
share announcement

Biomimetic Strategies to Enhance Bone Tissue Healing, Remodeling and Regeneration

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetics of Materials and Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 March 2025) | Viewed by 4924

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Otto Carl Wilson, Jr.

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA
Interests: biomineralization phenomena; nanomaterials chemistry; biological liquid crystals;healing and remodeling of hard tissue
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bone tissue displays a number of unique chemical, physical, and biological characteristics which make it one of the most fascinating tissues in the body. Bone tissue plays an important physical role in providing structural support for our bodies and the foundation for tendon and ligament attachment for movement. Bone tissue also provides a physical environment for the protection of bone marrow tissue and internal organs. Bone tissue serves as a chemical storage depot for calcium and phosphate ions. These ions play a critically important role in a host of biological processes that are vital for life. These factors add to the importance of developing effective design strategies to maintain bone tissue health across the age spectrum from youth through to old age. One of the most important considerations in designing materials to enhance bone healing involves ensuring that the intervention is able to accompany the orchestra that resonates during bone tissue healing and remodeling without eliciting unfavorable effects.

Biomimetic design principles are based on learning from, modeling, and mimicking the processes that naturally occur during biological processes. Biomimetic design strategies and principles can be used to enhance the healing and remodeling of bone at the whole tissue, cellular, and subcellular levels and have shown much promise for future innovations in treatment. The focus of our Special Issue, entitled “Biomimetic Strategies to Enhance Bone Tissue Healing, Remodeling and Regeneration”, is to shine a spotlight on some of the key research studies that are being conducted in this field. These studies push the boundaries of our understanding of hard tissue healing phenomena and will pave the way for making great advances in optimizing skeletal health for life on Earth as well as the challenges of space travel as we venture beyond the earth.

Dr. Otto Carl Wilson, Jr.
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomimetic strategies
  • bone repair
  • 3D scaffolds
  • bioceramics
  • bone grafts
  • orthopedic implants
  • bionic prostheses
  • bioresorbable material
  • biomechanics

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 3037 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Three-Dimensional Stabilization Thread Design on Biomechanical Fixation and Osseointegration in Type IV Bone
by Nicholas J. Iglesias, Vasudev Vivekanand Nayak, Arthur Castellano, Lukasz Witek, Bruno Martins de Souza, Edmara T. P. Bergamo, Ricky Almada, Blaire V. Slavin, Estevam A. Bonfante and Paulo G. Coelho
Biomimetics 2025, 10(6), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10060395 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 265
Abstract
Achieving the appropriate primary stability for immediate or early loading in areas with low-density bone, such as the posterior maxilla, is challenging. A three-dimensional (3D) stabilization implant design featuring a tapered body with continuous cutting flutes along the length of the external thread [...] Read more.
Achieving the appropriate primary stability for immediate or early loading in areas with low-density bone, such as the posterior maxilla, is challenging. A three-dimensional (3D) stabilization implant design featuring a tapered body with continuous cutting flutes along the length of the external thread form, with a combination of curved and linear geometric surfaces on the thread’s crest, has the capacity to enhance early biomechanical and osseointegration outcomes compared to implants with traditional buttressed thread profiles. Commercially available implants with a buttress thread design (TP), and an experimental implant that incorporated the 3D stabilization trimmed-thread design (TP 3DS) were used in this study. Six osteotomies were surgically created in the ilium of adult sheep (N = 14). Osteotomy sites were randomized to receive either the TP or TP 3DS implant to reduce site bias. Subjects were allowed to heal for either 3 or 12 weeks (N = 7 sheep/time point), after which samples were collected en bloc (including the implants and surrounding bone) and implants were either subjected to bench-top biomechanical testing (e.g., lateral loading), histological/histomorphometric analysis, or nanoindentation testing. Both implant designs yielded high insertion torque (ITV ≥ 30 N⋅cm) and implant stability quotient (ISQ ≥ 70) values, indicative of high primary stability. Qualitative histomorphological analysis revealed that the TP 3DS group exhibited a continuous bone–implant interface along the threaded region, in contrast to the TP group at the early, 3-week, healing time point. Furthermore, TP 3DS’s cutting flutes along the entire length of the implant permitted the distribution of autologous bone chips within the healing chambers. Histological evaluation at 12 weeks revealed an increase in woven bone containing a greater presence of lacunae within the healing chambers in both groups, consistent with an intramembranous-like healing pattern and absence of bone dieback. The TP 3DS macrogeometry yielded a ~66% increase in average lateral load during pushout testing at baseline (T = 0 weeks, p = 0.036) and significantly higher bone-to-implant contact (BIC) values at 3 weeks post-implantation (p = 0.006), relative to the traditional TP implant. In a low-density (Type IV) bone model, the TP 3DS implant demonstrated improved performance compared to the conventional TP, as evidenced by an increase in baseline lateral loading capacity and increased BIC during the early stages of osseointegration. These findings indicate that the modified implant configuration of the TP 3DS facilitates more favorable biomechanical integration and may promote more rapid and stable bone anchorage under compromised bone quality conditions. Therefore, such improvements could have important clinical implications for the success and longevity of dental implants placed in regions with low bone density. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Strategies to Enhance Bone Tissue Healing, Remodeling and Regeneration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 3030 KiB  
Article
Effect of Octacalcium Phosphate on Osteogenic Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in a 3D Hybrid Spheroid Culture
by Yuki Sugai, Ryo Hamai, Yukari Shiwaku, Takahisa Anada, Kaori Tsuchiya, Tai Kimura, Manami Tadano, Kensuke Yamauchi, Tetsu Takahashi, Hiroshi Egusa and Osamu Suzuki
Biomimetics 2025, 10(4), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10040205 - 26 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 716
Abstract
Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) has been shown to exhibit an osteogenic property and, therefore, has been utilized recently as a bone substitute, clinically. However, the stimulatory capacity for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is not known. This study investigated whether OCP enhances osteoblastic differentiation [...] Read more.
Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) has been shown to exhibit an osteogenic property and, therefore, has been utilized recently as a bone substitute, clinically. However, the stimulatory capacity for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is not known. This study investigated whether OCP enhances osteoblastic differentiation of three-dimensionally cultured spheroids of iPS cells compared to hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). Mouse iPS cells were mixed with smaller (less than 53 μm) or larger (300–500 μm) sizes of calcium phosphate (CaP) granules and cultured in a laboratory-developed oxygen-permeable culture chip under minimizing hypoxia for up to 21 days. Osteoblastic differentiation was estimated by the cellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. The degree of supersaturation (DS) with respect to CaP phases was determined from the media chemical compositions. Incubated CaP materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The culture promoted well the formation of hybrid spheroids of CaP materials and iPS cells regardless of the type of materials and their granule sizes. The ALP activity of OCP was about 1.5 times higher than that of β-TCP and HA in smaller granule sizes. FTIR, XRD, and DS analyses showed that larger OCP granules tended to hydrolyze to HA slightly faster than smaller granules with time while HA and β-TCP materials tended to remain unchanged. In conclusion, the results suggest that OCP enhances the osteogenic differentiation of iPS cells more than HA and β-TCP through a mechanism of hydrolyzing to HA. This inherent material property of OCP is essential for enhancing the osteoblastic differentiation of iPS cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Strategies to Enhance Bone Tissue Healing, Remodeling and Regeneration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4901 KiB  
Article
Optimization of High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging to Detect Incremental Changes in Mineral Content at the Cartilage–Bone Interface Ex Vivo
by Akshay Charan, Parag V. Chitnis and Caroline D. Hoemann
Biomimetics 2025, 10(3), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10030160 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 687
Abstract
(1) Background: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the whole joint marked by cartilage–bone interface (CBI) remodeling, but methods to monitor subtle changes in mineralization are lacking. We optimized a non-destructive ultrasound imaging method to monitor incremental shifts in mineralization, using brief decalcification [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the whole joint marked by cartilage–bone interface (CBI) remodeling, but methods to monitor subtle changes in mineralization are lacking. We optimized a non-destructive ultrasound imaging method to monitor incremental shifts in mineralization, using brief decalcification as a mimetic of CBI remodeling. (2) Methods: We used a 35-MHz transducer to scan 3 mm diameter bovine osteochondral explants wrapped with parafilm to produce surface-directed decalcification and dedicated 3D-printed holders to maintain sample orientation. Customized MATLAB codes and a matched pair design were used for quantitative hypothesis testing. (3) Results: Optimal scan precision was obtained when the High-Frequency Ultrasound (HFUS) focal distance was trained at the CBI. HFUS cartilage thickness increased by 53 ± 21 µm or 97 ± 28 µm after three or seven hours of ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) (but not PBS), respectively, and was highly correlated with histological cartilage thickness (R = 0.98). The en face CBI backscatter pattern was irregular and shifted after the EDTA-displacement of the mineral front. Collective data suggested that the −10 dB echogenic CBI signal originated from the mineral front and varied topographically with undulating mineral thickness. (4) Conclusions: This imaging approach could be used to monitor tidemark remodeling in live explant cultures, toward identifying new treatments that inhibit tidemark advancement and slow osteoarthritis progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Strategies to Enhance Bone Tissue Healing, Remodeling and Regeneration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4966 KiB  
Article
Polyetheretherketone Double Functionalization with Bioactive Peptides Improves Human Osteoblast Response
by Leonardo Cassari, Cristian Balducci, Grazia M. L. Messina, Giovanna Iucci, Chiara Battocchio, Federica Bertelà, Giovanni Lucchetta, Trevor Coward, Lucy Di Silvio, Giovanni Marletta, Annj Zamuner, Paola Brun and Monica Dettin
Biomimetics 2024, 9(12), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9120767 - 17 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1099
Abstract
In recent years, the demand for orthopedic implants has surged due to increased life expectancy, necessitating the need for materials that better mimic the biomechanical properties of human bone. Traditional metal implants, despite their mechanical superiority and biocompatibility, often face challenges such as [...] Read more.
In recent years, the demand for orthopedic implants has surged due to increased life expectancy, necessitating the need for materials that better mimic the biomechanical properties of human bone. Traditional metal implants, despite their mechanical superiority and biocompatibility, often face challenges such as mismatched elastic modulus and ion release, leading to complications and implant failures. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a semi-crystalline polymer with an aromatic backbone, presents a promising alternative due to its adjustable elastic modulus and compatibility with bone tissue. This study explores the functionalization of sandblasted 3D-printed PEEK disks with the bioactive peptides Aoa-GBMP1α and Aoa-EAK to enhance human osteoblast response. Aoa-GBMP1α reproduces 48–69 trait of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP-2), whereas Aoa-EAK is a self-assembling peptide mimicking extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrous structure. Superficial characterization included X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), white light interferometer analysis, static water contact angle (S-WCA), and force spectroscopy (AFM-FS). Biological assays demonstrated a significant increase in human osteoblast (HOB) proliferation, calcium deposition, and expression of osteogenic genes (RUNX2, SPP1, and VTN) on functionalized PEEK compared to non-functionalized controls. The findings suggest that dual peptide-functionalized PEEK holds significant potential for advancing orthopedic implant technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Strategies to Enhance Bone Tissue Healing, Remodeling and Regeneration)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 5633 KiB  
Article
A Murine Model of Non-Wear-Particle-Induced Aseptic Loosening
by Vincentius Suhardi, Anastasia Oktarina, Yingzhen Niu, Branden Sosa, Julia Retzky, Matthew Greenblatt, Lionel Ivashkiv, Mathias Bostrom and Xu Yang
Biomimetics 2024, 9(11), 673; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9110673 - 4 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1555
Abstract
Background: The current murine models of peri-implant osseointegration failure are associated with wear particles. However, the current clinical osseointegration failure is not associated with wear particles. Here, we develop a murine model of osseointegration failure not associated with wear particles and validate it [...] Read more.
Background: The current murine models of peri-implant osseointegration failure are associated with wear particles. However, the current clinical osseointegration failure is not associated with wear particles. Here, we develop a murine model of osseointegration failure not associated with wear particles and validate it by comparing the cellular composition of interfacial tissues with human samples collected during total joint arthroplasty revision for aseptic loosening. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two 16-week-old female C57BL/6 mice underwent implantation with a press-fitted roughened titanium implant (Control, n = 11) to induce normal osseointegration and a press-fitted smooth polymethylmethacrylate implant (PMMA, n = 11), a loosely fitted smooth titanium implant (Smooth-Ti, n = 5) or a loosely fitted roughened titanium implant (Overdrill, n = 5) to induce osseointegration failure. Pullout testing was used to determine the strength of the bone–implant interface (n = 6 of each for Control and PMMA groups) at 2 weeks after implantation. Histology (n = 2/group) and immunofluorescence (n = 3/group) were used to determine the cellular composition of bone–implant interfacial tissue, and this was compared with two human samples. Results: Osseointegration failure was confirmed with grossly loosening implants and the presence of fibrous tissue identified via histology. The maximum pullout load in the PMMA group was 87% lower than in the Control group (2.8 ± 0.6 N vs. 21 ± 1.5 N, p < 0.001). With immunofluorescence, abundant fibroblasts (PDGFRα+ TCF4+ and PDGFRα+ Pu1+) were observed in osseointegration failure groups and the human samples, but not in controls. Interestingly, CD146+PDGFRα+ and LepR+PDGFRα+ mesenchymal progenitors, osteoblasts (OPN+), vascular endothelium (EMCN+) cells were observed in all groups, indicating dynamic osteogenic activity. Macrophages, only M2, were observed in conditions producing fibrous tissue. Conclusions: In this newly developed non-wear-particle-related murine osseointegration failure model, the cellular composition of human and murine interfacial tissue implicates specific populations of fibroblasts in fibrous tissue formation and implies that these cells may derive from mesenchymal stem cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic Strategies to Enhance Bone Tissue Healing, Remodeling and Regeneration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop