Nanomaterials

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4 pages, 203 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering

by Karan Gulati, Abdalla Abdal-hay and Sašo Ivanovski

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030333 - 21 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2103

Abstract

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials explores the recent advances relating to nano-engineered strategies for biomaterials and implants in bone tissue engineering [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

Research

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13 pages, 3577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mechanosensing and Global DNA Methylation of Human Osteoblasts on MEW Fibers

by Pingping Han, Cedryck Vaquette, Abdalla Abdal-hay and Sašo Ivanovski

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2943; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112943 - 03 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2178

Abstract

Cells interact with 3D fibrous platform topography via a nano-scaled focal adhesion complex, and more research is required on how osteoblasts sense and respond to random and aligned fibers through nano-sized focal adhesions and their downstream events. The present study assessed human primary [...] Read more.

Cells interact with 3D fibrous platform topography via a nano-scaled focal adhesion complex, and more research is required on how osteoblasts sense and respond to random and aligned fibers through nano-sized focal adhesions and their downstream events. The present study assessed human primary osteoblast cells’ sensing and response to random and aligned medical-grade polycaprolactone (PCL) fibrous 3D scaffolds fabricated via the melt electrowriting (MEW) technique. Cells cultured on a tissue culture plate (TCP) were used as 2D controls. Compared to 2D TCP, 3D MEW fibrous substrates led to immature vinculin focal adhesion formation and significantly reduced nuclear localization of the mechanosensor-yes-associated protein (YAP). Notably, aligned MEW fibers induced elongated cell and nucleus shape and highly activated global DNA methylation of 5-methylcytosine, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, and N-6 methylated deoxyadenosine compared to the random fibers. Furthermore, although osteogenic markers (osterix-OSX and bone sialoprotein-BSP) were significantly enhanced in PCL-R and PCL-A groups at seven days post-osteogenic differentiation, calcium deposits on all seeded samples did not show a difference after normalizing for DNA content after three weeks of osteogenic induction. Overall, our study linked 3D extracellular fiber alignment to nano-focal adhesion complex, nuclear mechanosensing, DNA epigenetics at an early point (24 h), and longer-term changes in osteoblast osteogenic differentiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

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19 pages, 6161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nano-Hydroxyapatite vs. Xenografts: Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Behavior

by Cristina Rodica Dumitrescu, Ionela Andreea Neacsu, Vasile Adrian Surdu, Adrian Ionut Nicoara, Florin Iordache, Roxana Trusca, Lucian Toma Ciocan, Anton Ficai and Ecaterina Andronescu

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2289; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092289 - 02 Sep 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3315

Abstract

This research focused on the synthesis of apatite, starting from a natural biogenic calcium source (egg-shells) and its chemical and morpho-structural characterization in comparison with two commercial xenografts used as a bone substitute in dentistry. The synthesis route for the hydroxyapatite powder was [...] Read more.

This research focused on the synthesis of apatite, starting from a natural biogenic calcium source (egg-shells) and its chemical and morpho-structural characterization in comparison with two commercial xenografts used as a bone substitute in dentistry. The synthesis route for the hydroxyapatite powder was the microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique, starting from annealed egg-shells as the precursor for lime and di-base ammonium phosphate as the phosphate precursor. The powders were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and cytotoxicity assay in contact with amniotic fluid stem cell (AFSC) cultures. Compositional and structural similarities or differences between the powder synthesized from egg-shells (HA1) and the two commercial xenograft powders—Bio-Oss^®, totally deproteinized cortical bovine bone, and Gen-Os^®, partially deproteinized porcine bone—were revealed. The HA1 specimen presented a single mineral phase as polycrystalline apatite with a high crystallinity (X_c 0.92), a crystallite size of 43.73 nm, preferential growth under the c axes (002) direction, where it mineralizes in bone, a nano-rod particle morphology, and average lengths up to 77.29 nm and diameters up to 21.74 nm. The surface of the HA1 nanoparticles and internal mesopores (mean size of 3.3 ± 1.6 nm), acquired from high-pressure hydrothermal maturation, along with the precursor’s nature, could be responsible for the improved biocompatibility, biomolecule adhesion, and osteoconductive abilities in bone substitute applications. The cytotoxicity assay showed a better AFSC cell viability for HA1 powder than the commercial xenografts did, similar oxidative stress to the control sample, and improved results compared with Gen-Os. The presented preliminary biocompatibility results are promising for bone tissue regeneration applications of HA1, and the study will continue with further tests on osteoblast differentiation and mineralization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

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14 pages, 6369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alkali-Treated Titanium Coated with a Polyurethane, Magnesium and Hydroxyapatite Composite for Bone Tissue Engineering

by Mahmoud Agour, Abdalla Abdal-hay, Mohamed K. Hassan, Michal Bartnikowski and Sašo Ivanovski

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1129; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051129 - 27 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2374

Abstract

The aim of this study was to form a functional layer on the surface of titanium (Ti) implants to enhance their bioactivity. Layers of polyurethane (PU), containing hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles (NPs) and magnesium (Mg) particles, were deposited on alkali-treated Ti surfaces using a [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to form a functional layer on the surface of titanium (Ti) implants to enhance their bioactivity. Layers of polyurethane (PU), containing hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles (NPs) and magnesium (Mg) particles, were deposited on alkali-treated Ti surfaces using a cost-effective dip-coating approach. The coatings were assessed in terms of morphology, chemical composition, adhesion strength, interfacial bonding, and thermal properties. Additionally, cell response to the variably coated Ti substrates was investigated using MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells, including assessment of cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and osteogenic activity through an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay. The results showed that the incorporation of HAp NPs enhanced the interfacial bonding between the coating and the alkali-treated Ti surface. Furthermore, the presence of Mg and HAp particles enhanced the surface charge properties as well as cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. Our results suggest that the deposition of a bioactive composite layer containing Mg and HAp particles on Ti implants may have the potential to induce bone formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

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15 pages, 18658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabrication and Characterization of Biodegradable Gelatin Methacrylate/Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Composite Hydrogel for Bone Tissue Engineering

by Ji-Bong Choi, Yu-Kyoung Kim, Seon-Mi Byeon, Jung-Eun Park, Tae-Sung Bae, Yong-Seok Jang and Min-Ho Lee

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(3), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11030617 - 02 Mar 2021

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3664

Abstract

In the field of bone tissue, maintaining adequate mechanical strength and tissue volume is an important part. Recently, biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) was fabricated to solve the shortcomings of hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and it is widely studied in the field [...] Read more.

In the field of bone tissue, maintaining adequate mechanical strength and tissue volume is an important part. Recently, biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) was fabricated to solve the shortcomings of hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and it is widely studied in the field of bone-tissue engineering. In this study, a composite hydrogel was fabricated by applying BCP to gelatin methacrylate (GelMA). It was tested by using a mechanical tester, to characterize the mechanical properties of the prepared composite hydrogel. The fabricated BCP was analyzed through FTIR and XRD. As a result, a different characteristic pattern from hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) was observed, and it was confirmed that it was successfully bound to the hydrogel. Then, the proliferation and differentiation of preosteoblasts were checked to evaluate cell viability. The analysis results showed high cell viability and relatively high bone differentiation ability in the composite hydrogel to which BCP was applied. These features have been shown to be beneficial for bone regeneration by maintaining the volume and shape of the hydrogel. In addition, hydrogels can be advantageous for clinical use, as they can shape the structure of the material for custom applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

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14 pages, 3306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nano-Hydroxyapatite Derived from Biogenic and Bioinspired Calcium Carbonates: Synthesis and In Vitro Bioactivity

by Francesca Cestari, Francesca Agostinacchio, Anna Galotta, Giovanni Chemello, Antonella Motta and Vincenzo M. Sglavo

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(2), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11020264 - 20 Jan 2021

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 4711

Abstract

Biogenic calcium carbonates naturally contain ions that can be beneficial for bone regeneration and therefore are attractive resources for the production of bioactive calcium phosphates. In the present work, cuttlefish bones, mussel shells, chicken eggshells and bioinspired amorphous calcium carbonate were used to [...] Read more.

Biogenic calcium carbonates naturally contain ions that can be beneficial for bone regeneration and therefore are attractive resources for the production of bioactive calcium phosphates. In the present work, cuttlefish bones, mussel shells, chicken eggshells and bioinspired amorphous calcium carbonate were used to synthesize hydroxyapatite nano-powders which were consolidated into cylindrical pellets by uniaxial pressing and sintering 800–1100 °C. Mineralogical, structural and chemical composition were studied by SEM, XRD, inductively coupled plasma/optical emission spectroscopy (ICP/OES). The results show that the phase composition of the sintered materials depends on the Ca/P molar ratio and on the specific CaCO₃ source, very likely associated with the presence of some doping elements like Mg²⁺ in eggshell and Sr²⁺ in cuttlebone. Different CaCO₃ sources also resulted in variable densification and sintering temperature. Preliminary in vitro tests were carried out (by the LDH assay) and they did not reveal any cytotoxic effects, while good cell adhesion and proliferation was observed at day 1, 3 and 5 after seeding through confocal microscopy. Among the different tested materials, those derived from eggshells and sintered at 900 °C promoted the best cell adhesion pattern, while those from cuttlebone and amorphous calcium carbonate showed round-shaped cells and poorer cell-to-cell interconnection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

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11 pages, 2901 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

TiB Nanowhisker Reinforced Titanium Matrix Composite with Improved Hardness for Biomedical Applications

by Joseph A. Otte, Jin Zou, Rushabh Patel, Mingyuan Lu and Matthew S. Dargusch

Nanomaterials 2020, 10(12), 2480; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10122480 - 10 Dec 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2426

Abstract

Titanium and its alloys have been employed in the biomedical industry as implants and show promise for more broad applications because of their excellent mechanical properties and low density. However, high cost, poor wear properties, low hardness and associated side effects caused by [...] Read more.

Titanium and its alloys have been employed in the biomedical industry as implants and show promise for more broad applications because of their excellent mechanical properties and low density. However, high cost, poor wear properties, low hardness and associated side effects caused by leaching of alloy elements in some titanium alloys has been the bottleneck to their wide application. TiB reinforcement has shown promise as both a surface coating for Ti implants and also as a composite reinforcement phase. In this study, a low-cost TiB-reinforced alpha titanium matrix composite (TMC) is developed. The composite microstructure includes ultrahigh aspect ratio TiB nanowhiskers with a length up to 23 μm and aspect ratio of 400 and a low average Ti grain size. TiB nanowhiskers are formed in situ by the reaction between Ti and BN nanopowder. The TMC exhibited hardness of above 10.4 GPa, elastic modulus above 165 GPa and hardness to Young’s modulus ratio of 0.062 representing 304%, 170% and 180% increases in hardness, modulus and hardness to modulus ratio, respectively, when compared to commercially pure titanium. The TiB nanowhisker-reinforced TMC has good biocompatibility and shows excellent mechanical properties for biomedical implant applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

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16 pages, 6719 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Human Teeth-Derived Bioceramics for Improved Bone Regeneration

by Ki-Taek Lim, Dinesh K. Patel, Sayan Deb Dutta, Han-Wool Choung, Hexiu Jin, Arjak Bhattacharjee and Jong Hoon Chung

Nanomaterials 2020, 10(12), 2396; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10122396 - 30 Nov 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) is one of the most promising candidates of the calcium phosphate family, suitable for bone tissue regeneration due to its structural similarities with human hard tissues. However, the requirements of high purity [...] Read more.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) is one of the most promising candidates of the calcium phosphate family, suitable for bone tissue regeneration due to its structural similarities with human hard tissues. However, the requirements of high purity and the non-availability of adequate synthetic techniques limit the application of synthetic HAp in bone tissue engineering. Herein, we developed and evaluated the bone regeneration potential of human teeth-derived bioceramics in mice′s defective skulls. The developed bioceramics were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The developed bioceramics exhibited the characteristic peaks of HAp in FTIR and XRD patterns. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was applied to determine the Ca/P molar ratio in the developed bioceramics, and it was 1.67. Cytotoxicity of the simulated body fluid (SBF)-soaked bioceramics was evaluated by WST-1 assay in the presence of human alveolar bone marrow stem cells (hABMSCs). No adverse effects were observed in the presence of the developed bioceramics, indicating their biocompatibility. The cells adequately adhered to the bioceramics-treated media. Enhanced bone regeneration occurred in the presence of the developed bioceramics in the defected skulls of mice, and this potential was profoundly affected by the size of the developed bioceramics. The bioceramics-treated mice groups exhibited greater vascularization compared to control. Therefore, the developed bioceramics have the potential to be used as biomaterials for bone regeneration application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

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Review

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18 pages, 2528 KiB

Open AccessReview

Novel Inorganic Nanomaterial-Based Therapy for Bone Tissue Regeneration

by Yu Fu, Shengjie Cui, Dan Luo and Yan Liu

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(3), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11030789 - 19 Mar 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4638

Abstract

Extensive bone defect repair remains a clinical challenge, since ideal implantable scaffolds require the integration of excellent biocompatibility, sufficient mechanical strength and high biological activity to support bone regeneration. The inorganic nanomaterial-based therapy is of great significance due to their excellent mechanical properties, [...] Read more.

Extensive bone defect repair remains a clinical challenge, since ideal implantable scaffolds require the integration of excellent biocompatibility, sufficient mechanical strength and high biological activity to support bone regeneration. The inorganic nanomaterial-based therapy is of great significance due to their excellent mechanical properties, adjustable biological interface and diversified functions. Calcium–phosphorus compounds, silica and metal-based materials are the most common categories of inorganic nanomaterials for bone defect repairing. Nano hydroxyapatites, similar to natural bone apatite minerals in terms of physiochemical and biological activities, are the most widely studied in the field of biomineralization. Nano silica could realize the bone-like hierarchical structure through biosilica mineralization process, and biomimetic silicifications could stimulate osteoblast activity for bone formation and also inhibit osteoclast differentiation. Novel metallic nanomaterials, including Ti, Mg, Zn and alloys, possess remarkable strength and stress absorption capacity, which could overcome the drawbacks of low mechanical properties of polymer-based materials and the brittleness of bioceramics. Moreover, the biodegradability, antibacterial activity and stem cell inducibility of metal nanomaterials can promote bone regeneration. In this review, the advantages of the novel inorganic nanomaterial-based therapy are summarized, laying the foundation for the development of novel bone regeneration strategies in future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering)

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