Multichannel AC Biosusceptometry System to Map Biodistribution and Assess the Pharmacokinetic Profile of Magnetic Nanoparticles by Imaging.

In this paper, the application of a technique to evaluate in vivo biodistribution of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) is addressed: the Multichannel AC Biosusceptometry System (MC-ACB). It allows real-time assessment of magnetic nanoparticles in both bloodstream clearance and liver accumulation, where a complex network of inter-related cells is responsible for MNP uptake. Based on the acquired MC-ACB images, we propose a mathematical model which helps to understand the distribution and accumulation pharmacokinetics of MNP. The MC-ACB showed a high time resolution to detect and monitor MNP, providing sequential images over the particle biodistribution. Utilizing the MC-ACB instrument, we assessed regions corresponding to the heart and liver, and we determined the MNP transfer rates between the bloodstream and the liver. The pharmacokinetic model resulted in having a strong correlation with the experimental data, suggesting that the MC-ACB is a valuable and accessible imaging device to assess in vivo and real-time pharmacokinetic features of MNP.

The effects of implant surface nanoscale features on osteoblast-specific gene expression.

This study investigated the influence of nanoscale implant surface features on osteoblast differentiation. Titanium disks (20.0 x 1.0 mm) with different nanoscale materials were prepared using sol-gel-derived coatings and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and analyzed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) were cultured on the disks for 3-28 days. The levels of ALP, BSP, Runx2, OCN, OPG, and OSX mRNA and a panel of 76 genes related to osteogenesis were evaluated. Topographical and chemical evaluation confirmed nanoscale features present on the coated surfaces only. Bone-specific mRNAs were increased on surfaces with superimposed nanoscale features compared to Machined (M) and Acid etched (Ac). At day 14, OSX mRNA levels were increased by 2-, 3.5-, 4- and 3-fold for Anatase (An), Rutile (Ru), Alumina (Al), and Zirconia (Zr), respectively. OSX expression levels for M and Ac approximated baseline levels. At days 14 and 28 the BSP relative mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated for all surfaces with nanoscale coated features (up to 45-fold increase for Al). The PCR array showed an up-regulation on Al coated implants when compared to M. An improved response of cells adhered to nanostructured-coated implant surfaces was represented by increased OSX and BSP expressions. Furthermore, nanostructured surfaces produced using aluminum oxide significantly enhanced the hMSC gene expression representative of osteoblast differentiation. Nanoscale features on Ti implant substrates may improve the osseointegration response by altering adherent cell response.

Efeito de superfícies de implantes nano-estruturadas na expressão de genes de osteoblastos e no contato osso-implante in vivo / Effect of nanostructured implant surfaces on osteoblast related gene expression and bone-implant contact in vivo

As tendências atuais na terapia com implantes odontológicostêm incluído o uso de implantes com superfícies modificadasutilizando nanotecnologia. Ciência que permite a construçãode novos materiais e dispositivos pela manipulação de átomosindividuais e moléculas (escala menor do que 100nm). O objetivodeste trabalho foi avaliar o papel das modificações em escalananométrica de superfícies de implantes osseointegradospara melhorar o processo de osseointegração. Nanotecnologiaoferece a engenheiros e profissionais da área de biologia e saúdenovos meios para entender e otimizar funções e respostasespecíficas de células. As várias técnicas utilizadas para adicionarcaracterísticas nanométricas às superfícies de implantesosseointegrados são descritas neste trabalho. Vários trabalhostem apresentado os efeitos da nanotecnologia na modulaçãode etapas fundamentais do processo de osseointegração. Asvantagens e desvantagens da utilização da nanotecnologia nasuperfície de implantes também são discutidas nesse trabalho.Posteriormente, em uma série de experimentos in vitro e in vivo,foi possível avaliar o efeito específico destas modificações emdois diferentes modelos. Como efeitos observados da aplicaçãode nanoestruturas à superfície dos implantes osseointegradosfoi possível verificar-se uma melhor e mais rápida resposta deosseointegração destes materiais, atuando efetivamente na cascatade diferenciação de osteoblastos.

Current trends in clinical dental implant therapy include useof endosseous dental implant surfaces embellished with nanoscaletopographies. Nanotechnology deals with materials withat least one significant dimension less than 100nm. The goal ofthis study was to consider the role of nanoscale topographic modificationof titanium substrates for the purpose of improvingosseointegration. Nanotechnology offers engineers and biologistsnew ways of interacting with relevant biological processes.Moreover, nanotechnology has provided means of understandingand achieving cell specific functions. The various techniquesthat can impart nanoscale topographic features to titaniumendosseous implants are described. Existing data supportingthe role of nanotopography suggests that critical steps in osseointegrationcan be modulated by nanoscale modification ofthe implant surface. Important distinctions between nanoscaleand micron-scale modification of the implant surface are presentlyconsidered. The advantages and disadvantages of nanoscalemodification of the dental implant surface are discussed.Finally, available data concerning the current dental implantsurfaces that utilize nanotopography in clinical dentistry aredescribed. Nanoscale modification of titanium endosseous implantsurfaces can alter cellular and tissue responses that maybenefit osseointegration and dental implant therapy. In a seriesof in vitro and in vivo experiments it was possible to evaluatethe effect of this modifications in different study designs. Theadvantages of the use of nanocues added to the surface of theosseointegrated dental implants allowed to a better and fasterosseointegration response of these materials, by acting on thedifferentiation of the osteoblasts.