Effects of Chemically Doped Bioactive Borate Glass on Neuron Regrowth and Regeneration.

Peripheral nerve injuries present challenges to regeneration. Currently, the gold standard for nerve repair is an autograft that results in another region of the body suffering nerve damage. Previously, bioactive borate glass (BBG) has been studied in clinical trials to treat patients with non-healing wounds, and we have reported that BBG is conducive for soft tissue repair. BBG provides structural support, degrades in a non-cytotoxic manner, and can be chemically doped. Here, we tested a wide range of chemical compounds that are reported to have neuroprotective characteristics to promote regeneration of peripheral neurons after traumatic injury. We hypothesized that chemical dopants added in trace amounts to BBG would improve neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) explants. We measured neurite outgrowth from whole DRG explants, and survival rates of dissociated neurons and support cells that comprise the DRG. Results show that chemically doped BBGs have differentially variable effects on neuronal survival and outgrowth, with iron, gallium, and zinc improving outgrowth of neurons, and iodine causing the most detriment to neurons. Because chemically doped BBGs support increased nerve regrowth and survival, they show promise for use in peripheral nerve regeneration.

Fabrication and characterization of poly-(ε)-caprolactone and bioactive glass composites for tissue engineering applications.

Much work has focused on developing synthetic materials that have tailored degradation profiles and physical properties that may prove useful in developing biomaterials for tissue engineering applications. In the present study, three different composite sheets consisting of biodegradable poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) and varying types of bioactive glass were investigated. The three composites were composed of 50wt.% PCL and (1) 50wt.% 13-93 B3 borate glass particles, (2) 50wt.% 45S5 silicate glass particles, or (3) a blend of 25wt.% 13-93 B3 and 25wt.% 45S5 glass particles. Degradation profiles determined for each composite showed the composite that contained only 13-93 B3 borate glass had a higher degradation rate compared to the composite containing only 45S5 silicate glass. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on the composites to determine the effect of adding glass to the polymer on mechanical properties. The peak stress of all of the composites was lower than that of PCL alone, but 100% PCL had a higher stiffness when pre-reacted in cell media for 6weeks, whereas composite sheets did not. Finally, to determine whether the composite sheets would maintain neuronal growth, dorsal root ganglia isolated from embryonic chicks were cultured on composite sheets, and neurite outgrowth was measured. The bioactive glass particles added to the composites showed no negative effects on neurite extension, and neurite extension increased on PCL:45S5 PCL:13-93 B3 when pre-reacted in media for 24h. This work shows that composite sheets of PCL and bioactive glass particles provide a flexible biomaterial for neural tissue engineering applications.

Monitoring of the pesticide diazinon in soil, stem and surface water of rice fields.

Diazinon is an organophosphorus insecticide (OPP) that is used as a pesticide for Chilo suppressalis (WLK) (Lep., Pyralidae) in rice fields. The extraction of diazinon from soil and the stems of rice plants has been carried out by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and the results compared with ultrasonic extraction (USE). The best parameters for MAE are hexane-acetone (8:2 v/v) as a solvent, a 2.5 min extraction time, and 20 ml of the solvent volume. Also, surface-water samples of the rice fields were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE) using a C18 disc. The optimum conditions of SPE were a sample volume of 750 ml, a pH of 7 and high ionic strength of water. The extracted samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The relative standard deviation (RSD) and regression coefficients related to the linearity were <3.5% (n = 5) and 0.99, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) is 0.1 ng ml(-1) with selected ion monitoring (SIM) at 137 m/z. The average recoveries of diazinon in soil and stem samples by MAE and surface-water by SPE were 98% (+/-3), 94% (+/-5) and 87% (+/-3), respectively. In June, the concentration of diazinon in soil and stem samples of the rice plants in Guilan province is high (55 ng ml(-1)) and in September is low (2 ng ml(-1)). In surface-water samples, the results are converse. In November, diazinon can not be detected in soil, stem or surface-water samples. Diazinon is degraded to diethylthiophosphoric acid. Also, three microorganism genera (Pseudomonas sp, Flavobacterium sp and Agrobacterium sp) have been found to degrade diazinon in soil and surface water.

Effect of bioactive borate glass microstructure on bone regeneration, angiogenesis, and hydroxyapatite conversion in a rat calvarial defect model.

Borate bioactive glasses are biocompatible and enhance new bone formation, but the effect of their microstructure on bone regeneration has received little attention. In this study scaffolds of borate bioactive glass (1393B3) with three different microstructures (trabecular, fibrous, and oriented) were compared for their capacity to regenerate bone in a rat calvarial defect model. 12weeks post-implantation the amount of new bone, mineralization, and blood vessel area in the scaffolds were evaluated using histomorphometric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The amount of new bone formed was 33%, 23%, and 15%, respectively, of the total defect area for the trabecular, oriented, and fibrous microstructures. In comparison, the percent new bone formed in implants composed of silicate 45S5 bioactive glass particles (250-300µm) was 19%. Doping the borate glass with copper (0.4 wt.% CuO) had little effect on bone regeneration in the trabecular and oriented scaffolds, but significantly enhanced bone regeneration in the fibrous scaffolds (from 15 to 33%). The scaffolds were completely converted to hydroxyapatite within the 12week implantation. The amount of hydroxyapatite formed, 22%, 35%, and 48%, respectively, for the trabecular, oriented, and fibrous scaffolds, increased with increasing volume fraction of glass in the as-fabricated scaffold. Blood vessels infiltrated into all the scaffolds, but the trabecular scaffolds had a higher average blood vessel area compared with the oriented and fibrous scaffolds. While all three scaffold microstructures were effective in supporting bone regeneration, the trabecular scaffolds supported more bone formation and may be more promising in bone repair.