In vitro Apatite Mineralization, Degradability, Cytocompatibility and in vivo New Bone Formation and Vascularization of Bioactive Scaffold of Polybutylene Succinate/Magnesium Phosphate/Wheat Protein Ternary Composite.

PURPOSE: A bioactive and degradable scaffold of ternary composite with good biocompatibility and osteogenesis was developed for bone tissue repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polybutylene succinate (PS:50 wt%), magnesium phosphate (MP:40 wt%) and wheat protein (WP:10 wt%) composite (PMWC) scaffold was fabricated, and the biological performances of PMWC were evaluated both in vitro and vivo in this study. RESULTS: PMWC scaffold possessed not only interconnected macropores (400 µm to 600 µm) but also micropores (10 µm ~20 µm) on the walls of macropores. Incorporation of MP into composite improved the apatite mineralization (bioactivity) of PMWC scaffold in simulated body fluid (SBF), and addition of WP into composite further enhanced the degradability of PMWC in PBS compared with the scaffold of PS (50 wt%)/MP (50 wt%) composite (PMC) and PS alone. In addition, the PMWC scaffold containing MP and WP significantly promoted the proliferation and differentiation of mouse pre-osteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1) cells. Moreover, the images from synchrotron radiation microcomputed tomography (SRmCT) and histological sections of the in vivo implantation suggested that the PMWC scaffold containing MP and WP prominently improved the new bone formation and ingrowth compared with PMC and PS. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical analysis further confirmed that the PMWC scaffold obviously promoted osteogenesis and vascularization in vivo compared with PMC and PS. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the biocompatible PMWC scaffold with improved bioactivity and degradability significantly promoted the osteogenesis and vascularization in vivo, which would have a great potential to be applied for bone tissue repair.

Macro-Microporous Surface with Sulfonic Acid Groups and Micro-Nano Structures of PEEK/Nano Magnesium Silicate Composite Exhibiting Antibacterial Activity and Inducing Cell Responses.

PURPOSE: To improve the surface bio-properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK)/nano magnesium silicate (n-MS) composite (PC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The surface of PC was firstly treated by particle impact (PCP) and subsequently modified by concentrated sulfuric acid (PCPS). RESULTS: PCPS surface exhibited not only macropores with sizes of about 150 µm (fabricated by particle impact) but also micropores with sizes of about 2 µm (created by sulfonation of PEEK) on the macroporous walls, and sulfonic acid (-SO3H) groups were introduced on PCPS surface. In addition, many n-MS nanoparticles were exposed on the microporous walls, which formed micro-nano structures. Moreover, the surface roughness and hydrophilicity of PCPS were obviously enhanced as compared with PC and PCP. Moreover, the apatite mineralization of PCPS in simulated body fluid (SBF) was obviously improved as compared with PC. Furthermore, compared with PC and PCP, PCPS exhibited antibacterial performances due to the presence of -SO3H groups. In addition, the responses (eg, adhesion and proliferation as well as differentiation) of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell of rat to PCPS were significantly promoted as compared with PC and PCP. CONCLUSION: PCPS with macro-microporous surface containing -SO3H groups and micro-nano structures exhibited antibacterial activity and induced cell responses, which might possess large potential for bone substitute and repair.

Influences of sodium tantalite submicro-particles in polyetheretherketone based composites on behaviors of rBMSCs/HGE-1 cells for dental application.

Dental implanted materials require excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility as well as integration with bone tissue and gingival tissue to achieve early loading and long-term stability. In this study, cubic shape sodium tantalite (ST) submicro-particles with the size of around 180 nm were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and ST/polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites (TPC) with ST content of 20 w% (TPC20) and 40 w% (TPC40) were prepared by melting blend. The results showed that the compressive strength, thermal properties, surface roughness, hydrophilicity and surface energy as well as adsorption of proteins on TPC40 were also significantly enhanced compared with TPC20 and PEEK. Moreover, the responses (adhesion and proliferation as well as differentiation) of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), and responses (adhesion, and proliferation) of human gingival epithelial (HGE-1) cells to TPC40 were significantly promoted compared with TPC20 and PEEK. The results demonstrated that ST content in TPC had remarkable effects on the surface properties, which played key roles in stimulating the responses of both rBMSCs and HGE-1 cells. TPC40 with increased surface properties and excellent cytocompatibility might have great potential as an implanted material for dental application.