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Biomaterials in Bone Reconstruction
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Biomaterials in Bone Reconstruction

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983). This special issue belongs to the section "Bone Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 8263

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Liya Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Electrical and Automation Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: bioprinting; tissue engineering; flexible electronics

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to focus on the current status and recent advances in biomaterials for bone reconstruction. Natural bone is a complex tissue vital for structural support, organ protection and mobility. Bone defects, especially complicated or large-scale lesions resulting from tumors, trauma, infection or other damages, are still a challenging issue. To improve the reconstruction of the damaged bones, tissue engineering has been introduced as a promising approach. Artificial bone must have sufficient mechanical and excellent biological properties. Bioengineered composite scaffolds consisting of multifunctional biomaterials with cells, growth factors and bioactive therapeutic agents have great promise for bone reconstruction. Smart stimulus-responsive materials have recently been researched to facilitate non-invasive and controllable dynamic repair or bone defects with the help of electrical, optical, ultrasound and thermal stimuli related to external physical triggers or disease microenvironments. To mimic the original structure of bone tissue, gradient porous scaffold structures were designed in the lattice form, truss structures and triply periodic minimal surface structures. Additionally, three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies  allow for the specific fabrication of scaffolds with an appropriate size, shape and intrinsic structures. Considering the pivotal role of bone tissue, this Special Issue seeks innovative strategies to promote bone defect repair and regeneration.

Dr. Liya Zhu
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. Journal of Functional Biomaterials 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 2700 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

  • biomaterials
  • tissue engineering
  • porous scaffold
  • 3D printing
  • bone regeneration

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

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 28277 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Bone Repair: Impact of Raloxifene-Functionalized Cerabone® on Rat Calvarial Defects
by Laura Gabriela Macedo, Gabriel Mulinari-Santos, Natália Barbosa de Siqueira, Letícia Pitol-Palin, Ana Cláudia Ervolino da Silva, Paula Buzo Frigério, Paulo Roberto Botacin, Paulo Noronha Lisboa-Filho and Roberta Okamoto
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(2), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16020059 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 660
Abstract
Bone substitutes are commonly used in bone regeneration, and their functionalization with bioactive molecules can significantly enhance bone regeneration by directly influencing bone cells. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of raloxifene-functionalized Cerabone® (CB) for promoting bone repair and to highlight [...] Read more.
Bone substitutes are commonly used in bone regeneration, and their functionalization with bioactive molecules can significantly enhance bone regeneration by directly influencing bone cells. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of raloxifene-functionalized Cerabone® (CB) for promoting bone repair and to highlight the implications in bone regeneration. The effectiveness of Cerabone® functionalized with raloxifene via sonication or gel delivery in promoting bone repair in rat calvaria defects was assessed. Ninety-six male rats with critical-sized calvarial defects were divided into six treatment groups (n = 16): COAG (spontaneous blood clot), CB (Cerabone®), CBS (Cerabone® sonicated alone), CBRS (Cerabone® with raloxifene sonicated), CBG (Cerabone® with gel vehicle), and CBRG (Cerabone® with 20% raloxifene gel). After 14 and 28 days, samples were analyzed using microtomography, histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence techniques. Quantitative data were statistically analyzed, comparing each group to the control CB group with significance set at p < 0.05. Micro-CT analysis demonstrated a significant increase in bone volume in the CBRS, CBRG, and CBS groups at 28 days compared to the CB group (p < 0.05). Specifically, the mean bone volume percentages for the CBRS, CBRG, CBS, and CB groups were 21.18%, 17.51%, 13.18%, and 7.8%, respectively. Histomorphometry showed increased new bone formation in the CBRS and CBRG groups at both 14 and 28 days. Fluorescence analysis revealed a significantly higher daily mineral apposition rate in the CBRS and CBRG groups at 28 days. These findings suggest that raloxifene-functionalized CB, delivered via sonication or gel, significantly enhances bone repair by improving bone volume and mineralization, highlighting its potential as an effective strategy for bone regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials in Bone Reconstruction)
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10 pages, 46964 KiB  
Article
Impact of Strength Parameters and Material Structure of Bone Plates on Displacement of Bone Fragments in the Injured Area
by Arkadiusz Szarek, Grzegorz Golański, Zbigniew Bałaga, Marcin Godzierz and Mariusz Radecki
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(2), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16020044 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 860
Abstract
The study is a metallographic analysis of commercial bone plates used for stabilizing long bones. The plates examined were delivered to the hospital in different years, and the course of treatment of patients with similar goniometric and anthropometric parameters varied dramatically. To determine [...] Read more.
The study is a metallographic analysis of commercial bone plates used for stabilizing long bones. The plates examined were delivered to the hospital in different years, and the course of treatment of patients with similar goniometric and anthropometric parameters varied dramatically. To determine the characteristics of displacement of bony fragments in the area of the simulated fracture and relate it to the strength parameters of the bone plate, experimental tests were carried out on composite femurs loaded according to the biomechanical loading model at known values of forces acting on the femoral head. In order to assess the influence of material parameters of the plate on the biomechanics of the bone–bone plate system, microstructural and strength tests were performed, i.e., three-point bending tests, chemical composition and hardness assessments, as well as evaluation of the state of internal stresses in the tested materials. The research conducted allowed us to develop guidelines for companies producing bone fixations and orthopedic surgeons who use bone plates to stabilize bones after mechanical trauma, allowing the plates to be tailored to individual patient characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials in Bone Reconstruction)
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17 pages, 5118 KiB  
Article
Microstructural Analysis of the Human Scapula: Mandibular Bone Tissue Engineering Perspectives
by Ilya L. Tsiklin, Denis S. Bezdenezhnych, Aleksei S. Mantsagov, Alexandr V. Kolsanov and Larisa T. Volova
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(12), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15120386 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 895
Abstract
Mandibular bone defect reconstruction remains a significant challenge for surgeons worldwide. Among multiple biodegradable biopolymers, allogeneic bone scaffolds derived from human sources have been used as an alternative to autologous bone grafts, providing optimal conditions for cell recruitment, adhesion, and proliferation and demonstrating [...] Read more.
Mandibular bone defect reconstruction remains a significant challenge for surgeons worldwide. Among multiple biodegradable biopolymers, allogeneic bone scaffolds derived from human sources have been used as an alternative to autologous bone grafts, providing optimal conditions for cell recruitment, adhesion, and proliferation and demonstrating significant osteogenic properties. This study aims to investigate the bone microstructure of the human scapula as a source for allogeneic bone scaffold fabrication for mandibular tissue engineering purposes. We created color-coded anatomical maps of the scapula and the mandible, reflecting the best anatomical and geometrical match. In this pilot study, we hypothesized a microstructural similarity of these bone structures and evaluated the human scapula’s bone tissue engineering potential for mandibular bone tissue engineering by focusing on the microstructural characteristics. Lyophilized human scapular and mandibular bioimplants were manufactured and sterilized. Experimental bone samples from the scapula’s acromion, coracoid, and lateral border from the mandibular condyle, mandibular angle, and mental protuberance were harvested and analyzed using micro-CT and quantitative morphometric analysis. This pilot study demonstrates significant microstructural qualitative and quantitative intra-group differences in the scapular and mandibular experimental bone samples harvested from the various anatomical regions. The revealed microstructural similarity of the human scapular and mandibular bone samples, to a certain extent, supports the stated hypothesis and, thus, allows us to suggest the human scapula as an alternative off-the-shelf allogeneic scaffold for mandibular reconstruction and bone tissue engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials in Bone Reconstruction)
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20 pages, 14428 KiB  
Article
miR-181a/MSC-Loaded Nano-Hydroxyapatite/Collagen Accelerated Bone Defect Repair in Rats by Targeting Ferroptosis Pathway
by Xiongjun Xu, Junming Feng, Tianze Lin, Runheng Liu and Zhuofan Chen
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(12), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15120385 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1024
Abstract
Background: The reparative regeneration of jawbone defects poses a significant challenge within the field of dentistry. Despite being the gold standard, autogenous bone materials are not without drawbacks, including a heightened risk of postoperative infections. Consequently, the development of innovative materials that [...] Read more.
Background: The reparative regeneration of jawbone defects poses a significant challenge within the field of dentistry. Despite being the gold standard, autogenous bone materials are not without drawbacks, including a heightened risk of postoperative infections. Consequently, the development of innovative materials that can surpass the osteogenic capabilities of autologous bone has emerged as a pivotal area of research. Methods: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), known for their multilineage differentiation potential, were isolated from human umbilical cords and transfected with miR-181a. The osteogenic differentiation of miR-181a/MSC was investigated. Then, physicochemical properties of miR-181a/MSC-loaded nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAC) scaffolds were characterized, and their efficacy and underlying mechanism in rat calvarial defect repair were explored. Results: miR-181a overexpression in MSCs significantly promoted osteogenic differentiation, as evidenced by increased alkaline phosphatase activity and expression of osteogenic markers. The miR-181a/MSC-loaded nHAC scaffolds exhibited favorable bioactivity and accelerated bone tissue repair and collagen secretion in vivo. Mechanistic studies reveal that miR-181a directly targeted the TP53/SLC7A11 pathway, inhibiting ferroptosis and enhancing the osteogenic capacity of MSCs. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that miR-181a/MSC-loaded nHAC scaffolds significantly enhance the repair of bone defects by promoting osteogenic differentiation and inhibiting ferroptosis. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating MSC osteogenesis and offer a promising therapeutic strategy for bone defect repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials in Bone Reconstruction)
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Review

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33 pages, 20993 KiB  
Review
Nanoparticles in Bone Regeneration: A Narrative Review of Current Advances and Future Directions in Tissue Engineering
by Samira Farjaminejad, Rosana Farjaminejad and Franklin Garcia-Godoy
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(9), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15090241 - 23 Aug 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4195
Abstract
The rising demand for effective bone regeneration has underscored the limitations of traditional methods like autografts and allografts, including donor site morbidity and insufficient biological signaling. This review examines nanoparticles (NPs) in tissue engineering (TE) to address these challenges, evaluating polymers, metals, ceramics, [...] Read more.
The rising demand for effective bone regeneration has underscored the limitations of traditional methods like autografts and allografts, including donor site morbidity and insufficient biological signaling. This review examines nanoparticles (NPs) in tissue engineering (TE) to address these challenges, evaluating polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites for their potential to enhance osteogenesis and angiogenesis by mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) nanostructure. The methods involved synthesizing and characterizing nanoparticle-based scaffoldsand integrating hydroxyapatite (HAp) with polymers to enhance mechanical properties and osteogenic potential. The results showed that these NPs significantly promote cell growth, differentiation, and bone formation, with carbon-based NPs like graphene and carbon nanotubes showing promise. NPs offer versatile, biocompatible, and customizable scaffolds that enhance drug delivery and support bone repair. Despite promising results, challenges with cytotoxicity, biodistribution, and immune responses remain. Addressing these issues through surface modifications and biocompatible molecules can improve the biocompatibility and efficacy of nanomaterials. Future research should focus on long-term in vivo studies to assess the safety and efficacy of NP-based scaffolds and explore synergistic effects with other bioactive molecules or growth factors. This review underscores the transformative potential of NPs in advancing BTE and calls for further research to optimize these technologies for clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials in Bone Reconstruction)
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