Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 17305

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Anatomy@Edinburgh, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AB, UK
Interests: anatomy; tissue engineering; tissue regeneration; biomaterials; musculoskeletal system; bone; tendon; enthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Any anatomical description of bone outlines its superior strength, as well as the unique macro- and microstructures that contribute to its characteristic properties. Traditional bone regeneration applications focus on using hard, dense material scaffolds to replicate bone structure and function; however, these have had mixed successes. Despite the original initiative to replace bone with materials comprising similar properties, there is growing interest in the use of hydrogels, typically orders of magnitude weaker than bone, as potential materials for bone regeneration.

In this Special Issue entitled “Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration”, we aim to highlight recent developments and technologies for the enhancement of bone regeneration in both in vivo and in vitro environments. We hope to establish a thorough collection of advances realized in natural, synthetic and hybrid hydrogels in the bone regeneration field, and to explore a wide range of both chemical and physical modification methods. Contributions based on any of the above techniques, applications and technologies are most welcomed.

Dr. Jennifer Z. Paxton
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. Gels 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 2100 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

  • hydrogel
  • polymer gels
  • bone
  • bone regeneration
  • bone tissue engineering
  • osteoblasts
  • osteoclasts

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.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

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

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

27 pages, 6819 KiB  
Article
Employing Polymer and Gel to Fabricate Scaffold-like Cancellous Orthopedic Screw: Polycaprolactone/Chitosan/Hydroxyapatite
by AmirHossein Badami, Javad Esmaeili and Hasan Mirtalaie
Gels 2025, 11(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11010028 - 2 Jan 2025
Viewed by 864
Abstract
Using metallic/polymeric orthopedic screws causes cavities in bone trauma after the attachment of broken bones, which prolongs the healing. Yet, it remains unknown how to overcome such a challenge. The main aim of this research was to use both polymers and gels to [...] Read more.
Using metallic/polymeric orthopedic screws causes cavities in bone trauma after the attachment of broken bones, which prolongs the healing. Yet, it remains unknown how to overcome such a challenge. The main aim of this research was to use both polymers and gels to fabricate and study a new PCL/chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffold-like orthopedic screw for cancellous bone trauma. This screw, because of its low stiffness and its scaffold-based matrix (due to the gel part), can facilitate bone healing. Different concentrations of PCL (60–95% w/v) and chitosan (0–5% w/v) were blended according to the Response Surface Methodology using the Central Composite Design. The screws were fabricated using the freeze-drying technique. The screws were assessed mechanically, physically, and biologically (cell viability, cell attachment, DAPI, ALP staining, and Alizarin Red staining), and in vivo (a rat subcutaneous implantation model). Based on the results, screws depending on the PCL and gel content depicted different but notable mechanical behavior (10–60 MPa of compressive strength and 100–600 N force). The gel part could affect the physical properties of screws including water uptake (120%), degradation (18% after 21 days), porosities (23%), and mechanical strength (elastic modulus = 59.47 Mpa). The results also demonstrated no cytotoxicity towards MC3T3 cells (>80% cell viability) with good cell attachment, cell concentration, and mineralization (>90%) that was justified by the gel content. The results also showed good in vivo biocompatibility. To sum up, fabricated scaffold-like screws with gel content can be a good candidate for cancellous-bone-based orthopedic purposes. However, more in vitro and in vivo studies are required to optimize the PCL:gel ratio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 4523 KiB  
Article
Nanocomposite Hydrogels with Polymer Grafted Silica Nanoparticles, Using Glucose Oxidase
by Ali A. Mohammed, Siwei Li, Tian Sang, Julian R. Jones and Alessandra Pinna
Gels 2023, 9(6), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9060486 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2542
Abstract
Nanocomposite hydrogels offer remarkable potential for applications in bone tissue engineering. They are synthesized through the chemical or physical crosslinking of polymers and nanomaterials, allowing for the enhancement of their behaviour by modifying the properties and compositions of the nanomaterials involved. However, their [...] Read more.
Nanocomposite hydrogels offer remarkable potential for applications in bone tissue engineering. They are synthesized through the chemical or physical crosslinking of polymers and nanomaterials, allowing for the enhancement of their behaviour by modifying the properties and compositions of the nanomaterials involved. However, their mechanical properties require further enhancement to meet the demands of bone tissue engineering. Here, we present an approach to improve the mechanical properties of nanocomposite hydrogels by incorporating polymer grafted silica nanoparticles into a double network inspired hydrogel (gSNP Gels). The gSNP Gels were synthesised via a graft polymerization process using a redox initiator. gSNP Gels were formed by grafting 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) as the first network gel followed by a sequential second network acrylamide (AAm) onto amine functionalized silica nanoparticles (ASNPs). We utilized glucose oxidase (GOx) to create an oxygen-free atmosphere during polymerization, resulting in higher polymer conversion compared to argon degassing. The gSNP Gels showed excellent compressive strengths of 13.9 ± 5.5 MPa, a strain of 69.6 ± 6.4%, and a water content of 63.4% ± 1.8. The synthesis technique demonstrates a promising approach to enhance the mechanical properties of hydrogels, which can have significant implications for bone tissue engineering and other soft tissue applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 3373 KiB  
Article
Methacrylated Silk Fibroin Additive Manufacturing of Shape Memory Constructs with Possible Application in Bone Regeneration
by Alessio Bucciarelli, Mauro Petretta, Brunella Grigolo, Laura Gambari, Alessandra Maria Bossi, Francesco Grassi and Devid Maniglio
Gels 2022, 8(12), 833; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8120833 - 16 Dec 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3813
Abstract
Methacrylated silk (Sil-MA) is a chemically modified silk fibroin specifically designed to be crosslinkable under UV light, which makes this material applicable in additive manufacturing techniques and allows the prototyping and development of patient-specific 2D or 3D constructs. In this study, we produced [...] Read more.
Methacrylated silk (Sil-MA) is a chemically modified silk fibroin specifically designed to be crosslinkable under UV light, which makes this material applicable in additive manufacturing techniques and allows the prototyping and development of patient-specific 2D or 3D constructs. In this study, we produced a thin grid structure based on crosslinked Sil-MA that can be withdrawn and ejected and that can recover its shape after rehydration. A complete chemical and physical characterization of Sil-MA was first conducted. Additionally, we tested Sil-MA biocompatibility according to the International Standard Organization protocols (ISO 10993) ensuring the possibility of using it in future trials. Sil-MA was also tested to verify its ability to support osteogenesis. Overall, Sil-MA was shown to be biocompatible and osteoconductive. Finally, two different additive manufacturing technologies, a Digital Light Processing (DLP) UV projector and a pneumatic extrusion technique, were used to develop a Sil-MA grid construct. A proof-of-concept of its shape-memory property was provided. Together, our data support the hypothesis that Sil-MA grid constructs can be injectable and applicable in bone regeneration applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

26 pages, 3456 KiB  
Review
Hydrogel Microparticles for Bone Regeneration
by Cemile Bektas and Yong Mao
Gels 2024, 10(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010028 - 28 Dec 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3451
Abstract
Hydrogel microparticles (HMPs) stand out as promising entities in the realm of bone tissue regeneration, primarily due to their versatile capabilities in delivering cells and bioactive molecules/drugs. Their significance is underscored by distinct attributes such as injectability, biodegradability, high porosity, and mechanical tunability. [...] Read more.
Hydrogel microparticles (HMPs) stand out as promising entities in the realm of bone tissue regeneration, primarily due to their versatile capabilities in delivering cells and bioactive molecules/drugs. Their significance is underscored by distinct attributes such as injectability, biodegradability, high porosity, and mechanical tunability. These characteristics play a pivotal role in fostering vasculature formation, facilitating mineral deposition, and contributing to the overall regeneration of bone tissue. Fabricated through diverse techniques (batch emulsion, microfluidics, lithography, and electrohydrodynamic spraying), HMPs exhibit multifunctionality, serving as vehicles for drug and cell delivery, providing structural scaffolding, and functioning as bioinks for advanced 3D-printing applications. Distinguishing themselves from other scaffolds like bulk hydrogels, cryogels, foams, meshes, and fibers, HMPs provide a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, promoting improved interactions with the surrounding tissues and facilitating the efficient delivery of cells and bioactive molecules. Notably, their minimally invasive injectability and modular properties, offering various designs and configurations, contribute to their attractiveness for biomedical applications. This comprehensive review aims to delve into the progressive advancements in HMPs, specifically for bone regeneration. The exploration encompasses synthesis and functionalization techniques, providing an understanding of their diverse applications, as documented in the existing literature. The overarching goal is to shed light on the advantages and potential of HMPs within the field of engineering bone tissue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration)
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 7726 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress in Hyaluronic-Acid-Based Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering
by Hee Sook Hwang and Chung-Sung Lee
Gels 2023, 9(7), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9070588 - 21 Jul 2023
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 5663
Abstract
Hydrogel-based bone tissue engineering is a potential strategy for treating bone abnormalities and fractures. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural polymer that is widely distributed in the human body and plays a significant role in numerous physiological processes such as cell migration, tissue [...] Read more.
Hydrogel-based bone tissue engineering is a potential strategy for treating bone abnormalities and fractures. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural polymer that is widely distributed in the human body and plays a significant role in numerous physiological processes such as cell migration, tissue hydration, and wound healing. Hydrogels based on HA and its derivatives have gained popularity as potential treatments for bone-related diseases. HA-based hydrogels have been extensively studied for their ability to mimic the natural extracellular matrix of bone tissue and provide a suitable microenvironment for cell support and tissue regeneration. The physical and chemical properties of HA can be modified to improve its mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and osteogenic potential. Moreover, HA-based hydrogels combined with other biomaterials in the presence or absence of bioactive agents have been investigated as a means of improving the mechanical properties and bioactivity of the hydrogel scaffold. Therefore, HA-based hydrogels have shown great promise in bone tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility, osteogenic activity, and ability to mimic the natural extracellular matrix of bone tissue. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in HA-based hydrogels for bone tissue engineering, highlighting the key advances, challenges, and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Bone Regeneration)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop