Search Results (255)

Tissue-engineered scaffolds, particularly composite scaffolds composed of polymers combined with ceramics, bioactive glasses, or nanomaterials, play a vital role in regenerative medicine by providing structural and biological support for tissue repair. As scaffold designs grow increasingly complex, the need for non-invasive imaging modalities capable of monitoring scaffold integration, degradation, and tissue regeneration in real-time has become critical. This review summarizes current non-invasive imaging techniques used to evaluate tissue-engineered constructs, including optical methods such as near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIR), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); X-ray-based approaches like computed tomography (CT); and ultrasound-based modalities. It discusses the unique advantages and limitations of each modality. Finally, the review identifies major challenges—including limited imaging depth, resolution trade-offs, and regulatory hurdles—and proposes future directions to enhance translational readiness and clinical adoption of imaging-guided tissue engineering (TE). Emerging prospects such as multimodal platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) assisted image analysis hold promise for improving precision, scalability, and clinical relevance in scaffold monitoring. Full article

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of teriparatide (TP) in guided bone regeneration (GBR). An electronic search without language or date restrictions was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, and gray literature for articles published until June 2025. Inclusion criteria considered studies evaluating the effect of TP on bone regeneration, analyzed using SYRCLE’s Risk of Bias tool. Twenty-four preclinical studies were included, covering diverse craniofacial models (mandibular, calvarial, extraction sockets, sinus augmentation, distraction osteogenesis, segmental defects) and employing systemic or local TP administration. Teriparatide consistently enhanced osteogenesis, graft integration, angiogenesis, and mineralization, with potentiated effects when combined with various biomaterials, including polyethylene glycol (PEG), hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP), biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), octacalcium phosphate collagen (OCP/Col), enamel matrix derivatives (EMDs), autografts, allografts, xenografts (Bio-Oss), strontium ranelate, and bioactive glass. Critically, most studies presented a moderate-to-high risk of bias, with insufficient randomization, allocation concealment, and blinding, which limited the internal validity of the findings. TP shows promising osteoanabolic potential in guided bone regeneration, enhancing bone formation, angiogenesis, and scaffold integration across preclinical models. Nonetheless, its translation to clinical practice requires well-designed human randomized controlled trials to define optimal dosing strategies, long-term safety, and its role in oral and craniomaxillofacial surgical applications. Full article

This research activity proposes to produce composite hydrogel–bioactive glass. The primary purpose of this research is to develop and optimize 3D-printed scaffolds using doped bioglass, aimed at enhancing bone regeneration in bone defects. The bioglass, a bioactive material known for its bone-bonding ability (SiO₂–P₂O₅–CaO–Na₂O), co-doped with europium and silver was synthesized and doped to improve its biological properties. This doped bioglass was then combined with a biocompatible hydrogel, chosen for its adequate cellular response and printability. The composite material was printed to form a scaffold, providing a structure that not only supports the damaged bone but also encourages osteogenesis. A variety of methods were employed to assess the rheological, compositional, and morphological characteristics of the samples: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Additionally, simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion for bioactivity monitoring and immunocytochemistry for cell viability were used to evaluate the biological response of the scaffolds. Full article

UV-cured methacrylated chitosan (MCHIT) hydrogels were achieved in the presence of silanised tellurium-doped silica bioactive glass (BG-Te-Sil) to produce an antimicrobial and osteoconductive scaffold for tissue engineering applications. Methacrylation of chitosan enabled efficient crosslinking, and the curing process was evaluated by means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photorheology analyses. Compressive testing on crosslinked hydrogels showed that the silanised, bioactive, doped glass increased the hydrogel’s elastic modulus by up to 200% compared to unreinforced controls. Antibacterial assays against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 revealed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in bacterial metabolic activity for hydrogels containing 50 wt% of the Te-doped bioactive glass. In vitro cytocompatibility with human bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated sustained viability and uniform distribution at 72 h (live/dead staining, AlamarBlue). Under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, reinforced hydrogels downregulated pro-inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and PGES-2). These results suggest that the presence of the silanised bioactive glass can significantly enhance mechanical stability, antibacterial properties, and anti-inflammatory responses without affecting cytocompatibility, making these hydrogels promising for tissue engineering applications. Full article

Direct ink writing (DIW) is an attractive, extrusion-based, additive manufacturing method for fabricating scaffold structures with controlled porosity using custom composite inks. Polycaprolactone–bioactive glass (PCL-BG) inks have gained attention for bone applications, but optimizing the formulation and fabrication of PCL-BG-based inks for improved printability and desired mechano-biological properties remains a challenge. This study employs a two-step design to systematically evaluate the effect of three factors in terms of PCL-BG composite printability and mechano-biological properties: ink preparation (acetone or dichloromethane (DCM) as the solvent, and mechanical compounding), the extrusion temperature (90 °C, 110 °C, and 130 °C), and the BG content (0%, 10%, and 20% BG). Pure PCL was used as the control. Rheological, calorimetric, and thermo-gravimetric analyses were conducted before printing. Cylindrical scaffolds and solid wells were printed to evaluate the printability, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility. The scaffold porosity and pore size were carefully examined. Mechanical tests demonstrated that composite formulations with added BG and higher printing temperatures increased the elastic modulus and yield strength. However, PCL-DCM-BG combinations exhibited increased brittleness with higher BG content. Despite concerns about the toxic solvent DCM, the cytocompatibility was comparable to pure PCL for all ink preparation methods. The results suggest that the interaction between the ink preparation solvent, the BG content, and the printing temperature is critical for material design and fabrication planning in bone tissue engineering applications, providing insights into optimizing PCL-BG composite ink formulations for 3D printing in bone tissue engineering. Full article

Bioactive glass (BG) is a promising material known for its osteogenic, osteoinductive, antimicrobial, and angiogenic properties. For this reason, melt-quench-derived BG powders embedded into composite electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) mats represent an interesting option for the fabrication of bioactive scaffolds. However, incorporating BG into nano-/micro-fibers remains challenging. Our research focused on integrating two BG compositions into the mat structure: 45S5 and 45S5_MS (the former being a well-known, commercially available BG composition, and the latter a magnesium- and strontium-enriched composition based on 45S5). Both BG types were added at concentrations of 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%. A careful grinding process enabled effective dispersion of BG into a PCL solution, resulting in fibers ranging from 500 nm to 2 µm in diameter. The mats’ mechanical properties were not hindered by the inclusion of BG powder within the fibrous structure. Furthermore, our results indicate that BG powders were successfully incorporated into the scaffolds, not only preserving their properties but potentially enhancing their biological performance compared to unloaded PCL electrospun scaffolds. Our findings indicate proper cell differentiation and proliferation, supporting the potential of these devices for tissue regeneration applications. Full article

Critical-size bone defects do not heal spontaneously and require external support, making bone regeneration a central challenge in tissue engineering. Polymeric/ceramic composite scaffolds offer a promising approach to mimic the structural and biological properties of bone. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of different doping oxides in bioactive glass (BG) on the performance of polycaprolactone (PCL)-based composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. Composite scaffolds were fabricated using solvent casting, hot pressing, and salt-leaching techniques, combining PCL with 25 wt% of BG or doped BG containing 4 mol% of tantalum, zinc, magnesium, or niobium oxides, and 1 mol% of copper oxide. The scaffolds were characterized in terms of morphology, mechanical properties, and in vitro biological performance. All scaffolds exhibited a highly porous, interconnected structure. Mechanical compression tests indicated that elastic modulus increased with ceramic content, while doping had no measurable effect. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed biocompatibility across all scaffolds. Among the tested materials, the Zn-doped BG/PCL scaffold uniquely supported cell adhesion and proliferation and significantly enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity—an early marker of osteogenic differentiation—alongside the Nb-doped scaffold. These results highlight the Zn-doped BG/PCL composite as a promising candidate for bone regeneration applications. Full article

In this study, a scaffold was designed using 3-Matic software 12.0 (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) and fabricated via Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing technology, followed by a mechanical property evaluation. The scaffold was bilaterally implanted into mandibular bone defect models in four Beagle dogs to facilitate guided alveolar bone regeneration. After 12 weeks, samples were harvested from two dogs for radiographic and histopathological evaluations. In the remaining two dogs, two dental implants were placed into the scaffold sites. After an additional 12 weeks, samples were harvested for further radiographic and histopathological assessments. (1) Compression testing of the scaffold demonstrated a compressive strength of 24.77 ± 2.36 MPa. (2) Three of the implantation sites exhibited poor wound healing and exposure of the bone grafts early post-surgery (4 weeks), with an exposure rate of 37.5%. (3) Micro-CT imaging revealed a uniform distribution of newly formed bone within the scaffold, with an average bone height of 4.05 ± 0.55 mm and a bone volume fraction of 43.93 ± 4.68%. Histopathological analysis demonstrated the presence of vascularized tissue, non-calcified bone, and newly calcified bone within the scaffold. Additionally, newly formed calcified bone and vascularized tissue were observed at the interface between the implant and the scaffold. These findings suggest that DLP 3D-printed A-W bioactive glass scaffolds represent a promising approach for guided alveolar bone regeneration in dental implant applications. Full article

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a widely used material in bone tissue engineering due to its favorable mechanical properties and radiolucency. However, its bioinert nature and lack of osteogenic activity restrict its ability to support effective bone regeneration. In this study, a novel APS-coated plasma-treated sulfonated bioactive PEEK scaffold (APS/PSBPK) was developed to overcome these limitations. The scaffold integrates strontium-doped bioactive glass (SrBG) to enhance biocompatibility and osteogenic potential, while astragalus polysaccharide (APS) was incorporated via plasma cleaning to modulate immune responses and promote vascularization. In vitro studies demonstrated that the APS/PSBPK scaffold facilitates M2 macrophage polarization, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhances the secretion of anti-inflammatory factors. It also promotes endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis while supporting the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs. In vivo experiments revealed that the scaffold effectively regulates the immune microenvironment, promotes vascularization, and accelerates bone regeneration. Thus, the APS/PSBPK composite scaffold serves as a multifunctional biomaterial with significant potential for applications in bone repair and regeneration by combining immunomodulation, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis. Full article

Reconstruction of extensive bone defects due to age, trauma, or post-illness conditions remains challenging. Biomimetic scaffolds with osteogenic capabilities have been proposed as an alternative to the classical autograft and allograft implants. Three-dimensional scaffolds were obtained based on Ce-doped mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) and Spongia agaricina (SA) as sacrificial templates functionalized with vitamin D₃. The study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D₃ functionalization on the optimal variant of a 3D scaffold doped with 3 mol% ceria, selected in our previous work based on its biological and physicochemical properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the non-functionalized/functionalized scaffolds revealed a porous structure with interconnected pores ranging from 100 to 350 μm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and SEM analysis confirmed the surface functionalization. Cytotoxicity evaluation showed that all investigated scaffolds do not exhibit cytotoxicity and genotoxicity toward the Saos-2 osteosarcoma cell line. Moreover, the study demonstrated that functionalization with vitamin D₃ enhanced osteogenic activity in dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) by increasing calcium deposition and osteocalcin secretion, as determined by Alizarin red stain and a colorimetric ELISA kit, as a result of its synergistic action with cerium ions. The results showed that the Ce-doped MBG scaffold functionalized with vitamin D₃ had the potential for applications in bone regeneration. Full article

Currently, there is an increasing demand for advanced materials that can address the needs of tissue engineering and have the potential for use in treatments targeting tumor cells, such as black bioactive materials in photothermal therapy. Thus, 3D fibrous scaffolds of black 45S5 bioactive glass were produced using the air-heated solution blow spinning (A-HSBS) technique, with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) serving as a spinning aid and an oxygen vacancy-inducing agent. Glass powder with the same composition was synthesized via the sol-gel route for comparison. The samples were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, along with in vitro tests using simulated body fluid (SBF), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and TRIS solution. The results showed that PVP enhanced oxygen vacancy formation and stabilized the scaffolds at 600 °C. Doping with Zn and Mg ions reduced crystallization while significantly increasing the fiber diameters. Scaffolds doped with Zn exhibited lower degradation rates, delayed apatite formation, and hindered ionic release. Conversely, Mg ions facilitated greater interaction with the medium and rapid apatite formation, completely covering the fibers. The scaffolds showed no cytotoxicity in the MTT assay at concentrations of up to 200 µg/mL for HaCat cells and 0.8 mg/mL for L929 cells. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using PVP in the production of black bioactive glass scaffolds, highlighting their potential for bone regeneration. Full article

Phosphate invert glasses (PIGs) have been attracting attention as materials for bone repair. PIGs have a high flexibility in chemical composition because they are composed of orthophosphate and pyrophosphate and can easily incorporate various ions in their glass networks. In our previous work, incorporation of niobium (Nb) into melt-quench-derived PIGs was effective in terms of controlling their ion release, and Nb ions promoted the activity of osteoblast-like cells. In the present work, a liquid-phase method was used for synthesizing Nb-containing PIGs, as this method allows us to prepare a glass precursor solution at room temperature, which can be attributed to improved glass-shape design. Nb-containing PIGs were successfully prepared, and their ion release behavior was controlled by changing the Nb content in the PIGs. The functions of Nb varied according to its content. For example, in the case of PIGs containing a larger amount of Nb, Nb acted as both the network modifier and former while also inducing the formation of chain-like structures. These glasses possessed a gradual ion release in a tris-HCl buffer solution. Cotton-wool-like structured scaffolds were fabricated using the synthesized Nb-containing glass using a wet-spinning method. Because the scaffolds possess excellent flexibility and controllable ion release, they are good candidates for new biomaterials. Full article

In this study, we present novel, vitrimeric and biobased scaffolds that are designed for hard tissue applications, composed of acrylated, epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) and reinforced with bioactive glass that is Tellurium doped (BG-Te) and BG-Te silanized, to tune the mechanical and antibacterial properties. The manufacture’s method consisted of a DLP 3D-printing method, enabling precise resolution and the possibility to manufacture a hollow and complex structure. The resin formulation was optimized with a biobased, reactive diluent to adjust the viscosity for an optimal 3D-printing process. The in vitro biological evaluation of the 3D-printed scaffolds, combined with BG-Te and BG-Te-Sil, showed that the sample’s surfaces remained safe for hBMSCs’ attachment and proliferation. The number of S. aureus that adhered to the BG-Te was 87% and 54% lower than on the pristine (control) and BG-Te-Sil, respectively, with the eradication of microbiofilm aggregates. This work highlights the effect of the vitrimeric polymer matrix and doped, bioactive glass in manufacturing biocompatible, biobased, and antibacterial scaffold used in hard tissue application. Full article

Many tissues exhibit structural anisotropy, which imparts orientation-specific properties and functions. However, recapitulating the cellular patterns found in anisotropic tissues presents a remarkable challenge, particularly when using soft and wet hydrogels. Herein, we develop self-assembled anisotropic magnetic Fe₃O₄ micropatterns on polyethylene glycol hydrogels utilizing dipole–dipole interactions. Under the influence of a static magnetic field, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles align into highly ordered structures with a height of 400–600 nm and a width of 8–10 μm. Furthermore, our layer-by-layer assembly technique enables the creation of oriented micropatterns with varying densities and heights, which can be further manipulated to form three-dimensional structures by adjusting the angle of the magnetic field. These anisotropic magnetic Fe₃O₄ micropatterns can be applied to various substrates, including treated glass slides, standard glass slides, silicon wafers, and polydimethylsiloxane. The patterned Fe₃O₄ scaffolds, modified with gold coating, effectively enhance cellular adhesion, orientation, and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived stem cells, which is crucial for effective tissue repair. Overall, this study presents an efficient strategy for constructing anisotropic Fe₃O₄ micropattern hydrogels, providing a bioactive platform that significantly enhances cellular functions. Full article

3D-printed biomedical polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds were developed, and their biodegradation, as well as their thermomechanical behavior, were studied in a relevant in vitro environment. The scaffold’s biodegradability profile has been monitored after immersion in a cell culture medium that contains components of blood and body fluids. Two types of biodegradation experiments were performed—a standard static one and an adapted stirring one, mimicking the body fluids’ flow, respectively—to achieve a comparative investigation. The biodegradation experiment’s duration was one month. The measurements were performed between days 1 and 28. The scaffold microstructure was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The weight loss of the scaffolds has been monitored. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used to evaluate the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the scaffolds and to draw useful conclusions about their thermal behavior. Finally, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was applied to investigate the viscoelastic behavior of the samples. The SEM analysis demonstrated that the samples in a static experiment are more damaged, while those in the stirring experiment are more brittle. The maximum T_g value of the material measured by DSC is around 65 °C. This value is reached after 5 days of immersion in static conditions and after 14 days of immersion after stirring, indicating that some processes take place faster in the static experiment. The variation of the T_g vs. immersion time, as derived from DSC vs. DMA measurements, gives similar results for both static and fluid absorption conditions, demonstrating the reproducibility of the results. Full article