In vivo safety assessment of a bio-inspired bone adhesive.

A new class of materials, bone adhesives, could revolutionise the treatment of highly fragmented fractures. We present the first biological safety investigation of a bio-inspired bone adhesive. The formulation was based upon a modified calcium phosphate cement that included the amino acid phosphoserine. This material has recently been described as substantially stronger than other bioresorbable calcium phosphate cements. Four adhesive groups with the active substance (phosphoserine) and two control groups without phosphoserine were selected for in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility testing. The test groups were subject for cell viability assay and subcutaneous implantation in rats that was followed by gene expression analysis and histology assessment after 6 and 12 weeks. All adhesive groups supported the same rate of cell proliferation compared to the α-TCP control and had viability between 45-64% when compared to cell control. There was no evidence of an increased immune response or ectopic bone formation in vivo. To conclude, this bio-inspired bone adhesive has been proven to be safe, in the present study, without any harmful effects on the surrounding soft tissue.

Thromboinflammation as bioactivity assessment of H2O2-alkali modified titanium surfaces.

The release of growth factors from platelets, mediated by the coagulation and the complement system, plays an important role in the bone formation around implants. This study aimed at exploring the thromboinflammatory response of H2O2-alkali soaked commercially pure titanium grade 2 discs exposed to whole human blood, as a way to assess the bioactivity of the discs. Commercially pure titanium grade 2 discs were modified by soaking in H2O2, NaOH and Ca(OH)2. The platelet aggregation, coagulation activation and complement activation was assessed by exposing the discs to fresh whole blood from human donors. The platelet aggregation was examined by a cell counter and the coagulation and complement activation were assessed by ELISA-measurements of the concentration of thrombin-antithrombin complex, C3a and terminal complement complex. The modified surface showed a statistically significant increased platelet aggregation, coagulation activation and complement activation compared to unexposed blood. The surface also showed a statistically significant increase of coagulation activation compared to PVC. The results of this study showed that the H2O2-alkali soaked surfaces induced a thromboinflammatory response that indicates that the surfaces are bioactive.

Pre-incubation of chemically crosslinked hyaluronan-based hydrogels, loaded with BMP-2 and hydroxyapatite, and its effect on ectopic bone formation.

The effects of pre-incubation of hyaluronan hydrogels, for different lengths of time after the initiation of chemical crosslinking and prior to injection, were explored both by investigating the in vitro BMP-2 release kinetics from the hydrogel and by studying the ectopic bone formation in rats. From the curing profile, obtained from rheological analysis, appropriate pre-incubation times (1 min, 5 h and 3 days) were selected, to prepare slightly, moderately and fully cured hydrogels. Comparable release profiles were observed for all three test groups in vitro. Furthermore, radiography, pQCT and histology of the explanted grafts showed cancellous bone formation in all groups after 5 weeks in vivo. However, longer pre-incubation times gave rise to an increase in bone volume, but a decrease in bone density. Moreover, the 5 h and the 3 days grafts appeared to be more ordered and resistant to deformation from the surrounding tissue than the 1 min grafts. The observed variations in mechanical and biological properties could potentially be used to adapt the treatment for a specific indication.

Novel Calcium Phosphate Promotes Interbody Bony Fusion in a Porcine Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Model.

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental porcine anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) model: a proof-of-concept study. OBJECTIVE: The effect of monetite synthetic bone graft containing calcium pyrophosphate (Ca-PP) and ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) on cervical spinal fusion in a non-instrumented two-level large animal model. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: ACDF is the gold standard surgical technique for the treatment of degenerative cervical spinal diseases. However, pseudarthrosis associated with increased patient morbidity occurs in approximately 2,6% of the surgeries. Synthetic bone graft (SBG) may enhance bony fusion and subsequently decrease the risk of pseudarthrosis. Recent studies on monetite-based synthetic bone grafts for use in large cranial defects in humans have shown promising bone healing results, necessitating further investigation of their use in cervical spinal fusion. METHODS: Four adult female Danish Göttingen mini-pigs received partial cervical anterior discectomy and intervertebral defects at an upper and lower level. One defect was filled with SBG and the other was left empty. Bony fusion was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) at three-month intervals for 12 months. Fifteen months post-surgery, the animals were euthanized for further ex vivo qualitative histopathological and micro-CT evaluations. Fusion rates were compared using Fisher´s exact test at each time point. RESULTS: Increased interbody bony fusion rates were observed at synthetic bone graft levels (4/4) compared with control levels (0/4) evaluated by CT at 6- and 9-months post-surgery ( P = 0.029). Fusion was observed at all synthetic bone graft levels 12 months post-surgery and at only one control level. Histopathological evaluation confirmed high-quality interbody bony fusion at all synthetic bone graft levels, and fusion by spondylosis at one control level. CONCLUSION: This proof-of-concept study provides preliminary evidence of a novel, Ca-PP -and ß-TCP-containing monetite SBG that promotes bony fusion compared to a negative control in a clinically relevant porcine model of ACDF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Noninvasive PET Detection of CD69-Positive Immune Cells Before Signs of Clinical Disease in Inflammatory Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory joint disease, and early diagnosis is key for effective disease management. CD69 is one of the earliest cell surface markers seen at the surface of activated immune cells, and CD69 is upregulated in synovial tissue in patients with active RA. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a CD69-targeting PET agent, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-ZCAM241, for early disease detection in a model of inflammatory arthritis. Methods: A model of inflammatory arthritis was induced by transferring splenocytes from KRN T-cell receptor transgenic B6 mice into T-cell-deficient I-Ag7 major histocompatibility complex class II-expressing recipient mice. The mice were examined longitudinally by [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-ZCAM241 PET/CT before and 3, 7, and 12 d after induction of arthritis. Disease progression was monitored by clinical parameters, including measuring body weight and scoring the swelling of the paws. The uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-ZCAM241 in the paws was analyzed and expressed as SUVmean Tissue biopsy samples were analyzed for CD69 expression by flow cytometry or immunostaining for a histologic correlate. A second group of mice was examined by a nonbinding, size-matched Affibody molecule as the control. Results: Clinical symptoms appeared 5-7 d after induction of arthritis. The uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-ZCAM241 in the joints was negligible at baseline but increased gradually after disease induction. An elevated PET signal was found on day 3, before the appearance of clinical symptoms. The uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-ZCAM241 correlated with the clinical score and disease severity. The presence of CD69-positive cells in the joints and lymph nodes was confirmed by flow cytometry and immunostaining. The uptake of the nonbinding tracer that was the negative control also increased gradually with disease progression, although to a lesser extent than with [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-ZCAM241 Conclusion: The uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-ZCAM241 in the inflamed joints preceded the clinical symptoms in the KRN T-cell transfer model of inflammatory arthritis, in accordance with immunostaining for CD69. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-ZCAM241 is thus a promising PET imaging marker of activated immune cells in tissue during RA onset.

Bisphosphonate-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel sequesters and enzymatically releases active bone morphogenetic protein-2 for induction of osteogenic differentiation.

Regeneration of bone by delivery of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) from implantable scaffolds is a promising alternative to the existing autologous bone grafting procedures. Hydrogels are used extensively in biomaterials as delivery systems for different growth factors. However, a controlled release of the growth factors is necessary to induce bone formation, which can be accomplished by various chemical functionalities. Herein we demonstrate that functionalization of a hyaluronan (HA) hydrogel with covalently linked bisphosphonate (BP) ligands provides efficient sequestering of BMP-2 in the resulting HA-BP hydrogel. The HA-BP hydrogel was investigated in comparison with its analogue lacking BP groups (HA hydrogel). While HA hydrogel released 100% of BMP-2 over two weeks, less than 10% of BMP-2 was released from the HA-BP hydrogel for the same time. We demonstrate that the sequestered growth factor can still be released by enzymatic degradation of the HA-BP hydrogel. Most importantly, entrapment of BMP-2 in HA-BP hydrogel preserves the growth factor bioactivity, which was confirmed by induction of osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after the cells incubation with the enzymatic digest of the hydrogel. At the same time, the hydrogels degradation products were not toxic to MSCs and osteoblasts. Furthermore, BP-functionalization of HA hydrogels promotes adhesion of the cells to the surface of HA hydrogel. Altogether, the present findings indicate that covalent grafting of HA hydrogel with BP groups can alter the clinical effects of BMPs in bone tissue regeneration.

Morphological differences in BMP-2-induced ectopic bone between solid and crushed hyaluronan hydrogel templates.

The possibility to affect bone formation by using crushed versus solid hydrogels as carriers for bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) was studied. Hydrogels, based on chemical crosslinking between hyaluronic acid and poly(vinyl alcohol) derivatives, were loaded with BMP-2 and hydroxyapatite. Crushed and solid forms of the gels were analyzed both in vitro via a release study using ¹²5I radioactive labeling of BMP-2, and in vivo in a subcutaneous ectopic bone model in rats. Dramatically different morphologies were observed for the ectopic bone formed in vivo in the two types of gels, even though virtually identical release profiles were observed in vitro. Solid hydrogels induced formation of a dense bone shell around non-degraded hydrogel, while crushed hydrogels demonstrated a uniform bone formation throughout the entire sample. These results suggest that by crushing the hydrogel, the construct's three-dimensional network becomes disrupted. This could expose unreacted functional groups, making the fragment's surfaces reactive and enable limited chemical fusion between the crushed hydrogel fragments, leading to similar in vitro release profiles. However, in vivo these interactions could be broken by enzymatic activity, creating a macroporous structure that allows easier cell infiltration, thus, facilitating bone formation.

Fe and C additions decrease the dissolution rate of silicon nitride coatings and are compatible with microglial viability in 3D collagen hydrogels.

Silicon nitride (SiN) coatings may reduce unwanted release of metal ions from metallic implants. However, as SiN slowly dissolves in aqueous solutions, additives that reduce this dissolution rate would likely increase the lifetime and functionality of implants. Adding iron (Fe) and carbon (C) permits tuning of the SiN coatings' mechanical properties, but their effect on SiN dissolution rates, and their capacity to reduce metal ion release from metallic implant substrates, have yet to be investigated. Such coatings have recently been proposed for use in spinal implants; therefore, it is relevant to assess their impact on the viability of cells expected at the implant site, such as microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS). To study the effects of Fe and C on the dissolution rate of SiN coatings, compositional gradients of Si, Fe and C in combination with N were generated by physical vapor deposition onto CoCrMo discs. Differences in composition did not affect the surface roughness or the release of Si, Fe or Co ions (the latter from the CoCrMo substrate). Adding Fe and C reduced ion release compared to a SiN reference coating, which was attributed to altered reactivity due to an increase in the fraction of stabilizing Si-C or Fe-C bonds. Extracts from the SiN coatings containing Fe and C were compatible with microglial viability in 2D cultures and 3D collagen hydrogels, to a similar degree as CoCrMo and SiN coated CoCrMo reference extracts. As Fe and C reduced the dissolution rate of SiN-coatings and did not compromise microglial viability, the capacity of these additives to extend the lifetime and functionality of SiN-coated metallic implants warrants further investigation.

Human Whole Blood Interactions with Craniomaxillofacial Reconstruction Materials: Exploring In Vitro the Role of Blood Cascades and Leukocytes in Early Healing Events.

The present study investigated early interactions between three alloplastic materials (calcium phosphate (CaP), titanium alloy (Ti), and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with human whole blood using an established in vitro slide chamber model. After 60 min of contact with blood, coagulation (thrombin-antithrombin complexes, TAT) was initiated on all test materials (Ti > PEEK > CaP), with a significant increase only for Ti. All materials showed increased contact activation, with the KK-AT complex significantly increasing for CaP (p < 0.001), Ti (p < 0.01), and PEEK (p < 0.01) while only CaP demonstrated a notable rise in KK-C1INH production (p < 0.01). The complement system had significant activation across all materials, with CaP (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001) generating the most pronounced levels of C3a and sC5b-9, followed by Ti (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and lastly, PEEK (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). This activation correlated with leukocyte stimulation, particularly myeloperoxidase release. Consequently, the complement system may assume a more significant role in the early stages post implantation in response to CaP materials than previously recognized. Activation of the complement system and the inevitable activation of leukocytes might provide a more favorable environment for tissue remodeling and repair than has been traditionally acknowledged. While these findings are limited to the early blood response, complement and leukocyte activation suggest improved healing outcomes, which may impact long-term clinical outcomes.

Tailoring the dissolution rate and in vitro cell response of silicon nitride coatings through combinatorial sputtering with chromium and niobium.

Ceramic coatings have been widely investigated as a means to reduce wear and metallic ion release from joint implants. Silicon nitride-based coatings have been a topic of interest specifically due to their solubility in aqueous solutions. This could imply a reduced adverse immune response since the generated debris would dissolve. However, there are concerns regarding the dissolution rate and adhesion of these silicon nitride-based coatings. This study attempts to address the concern of dissolution rate as well as coating adhesion of silicon nitride coatings. We hypothesized that alloying with chromium and niobium would affect the adhesion, dissolution rate, and the resulting ion release and cell response to the coatings. A combinatorial approach was used to deposit sputtered coatings with compositional gradients both with and without a CrN interlayer. Compositional gradients were achieved for all the investigated elements: Si (38.6-46.9 at%), Nb (2.2-4.6 at%) and Cr (1.9-6.0 at%). However, while the presence of an interlayer reduced the delamination during adhesion testing, the differences in composition in the top coating did not affect the adhesion. Nor did the top coating's composition affect the surface roughness or the coatings' inherent mechanical properties (elastic modulus and hardness). All coating compositions were associated with a low Co release from the underlying metal and points with a higher Cr content (4.3-6.0 at%) gave an overall lower release of Si, Cr and Nb ions, possibly due to the formation of a stable oxide, which reduced the dissolution rate of the coating. Optimum chromium contents were furthermore found to give an enhanced in vitro fibroblast cell viability. In conclusion, the results indicate a possibility to tailor the ion release rate, which lends promise to further investigations such as tribocorrosive tests towards a future biomedical application.

PET-CT imaging of pulmonary inflammation using [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE.

PURPOSE: In the characterization of severe lung diseases, early detection of specific inflammatory cells could help to monitor patients' response to therapy and increase chances of survival. Macrophages contribute to regulating the resolution and termination of inflammation and have increasingly been of interest for targeted therapies. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE is an established clinical radiopharmaceutical targeting somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR 2). Since activated macrophages (M1) overexpress SSTR 2, the aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of M1 macrophages in pulmonary inflammation. METHODS: Inflammation in the pig lungs was induced by warm saline lavage followed by injurious ventilation in farm pigs (n = 7). Healthy pigs (n = 3) were used as control. A 60-min dynamic PET scan over the lungs was performed after [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE injection and [18F]FDG scan was executed afterward for comparison. The uptake of both tracers was assessed as mean standardized uptake values (SUVmean) 30-60-min post-injection. The PET scans were followed by computed tomography (CT) scans, and the Hounsfield units (HU) were quantified of the coronal segments. Basal and apical segments of the lungs were harvested for histology staining. A rat lung inflammation model was also studied for tracer specificity using lipopolysaccharides (LPS) by oropharyngeal aspiration. Organ biodistribution, ex vivo autoradiography (ARG) and histology samples were conducted on LPS treated, octreotide induced blocking and control healthy rats. RESULTS: The accumulation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE on pig lavage model was prominent in the more severely injured dorsal segments of the lungs (SUVmean = 0.91 ± 0.56), compared with control animals (SUVmean = 0.27 ± 0.16, p < 0.05). The tracer uptake corresponded to the damaged areas assessed by CT and histology and were in line with HU quantification. The [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE uptake in LPS treated rat lungs could be blocked and was significantly higher compared with control group. CONCLUSION: The feasibility of the noninvasive assessment of tissue macrophages using [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE/PET was demonstrated in both porcine and rat lung inflammation models. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE has a great potential to be used to study the role and presence of macrophages in humans in fight against severe lung diseases.

Gluing Living Bone Using a Biomimetic Bioadhesive: From Initial Cut to Final Healing.

Osteoporotic fractures are a growing issue due to the increasing incidence of osteoporosis worldwide. High reoperation rates in osteoporotic fractures call for investigation into new methods in improving fixation of osteoporotic bones. In the present study, the strength of a recently developed bone bioadhesive, OsStictm, was evaluated in vivo using a novel bone core assay in a murine animal model at 0, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 days. Histology and micro-CT were obtained at all time points, and the mean peak pull-out force was assessed on days 0-28. The adhesive provided immediate fixation to the bone core. The mean peak bone core pull-out force gradually decreased from 6.09 N (σ 1.77 N) at day 0 to a minimum of 3.09 N (σ 1.08 N) at day 7, recovering to 6.37 N (σ 4.18 N) by day 28. The corresponding fibrin (Tisseel) control mean peak bone core pull-out characteristic was 0.27 N (σ 0.27 N) at day 0, with an abrupt increase from 0.37 N (σ 0.28) at day 3, 6.39 N (σ 5.09 N) at day 7, and continuing to increase to 11.34 N (σ 6.5 N) by day 28. The bone cores failed either through core pull-out or by the cancellous part of the core fracturing. Overall, the adhesive does not interrupt healing with pathological changes or rapid resorption. Initially, the adhesive bonded the bone core to the femur, and over time, the adhesive was replaced by a vascularised bone of equivalent quality and quantity to the original bone. At the 42 day time point, 70% of the adhesive in the cancellous compartment and 50% in the cortical compartment had been replaced. The adhesive outwith the bone shell was metabolized by cells that are only removing the material excess with no ectopic bone formation. It is concluded that the adhesive is not a physical and biochemical barrier as the bone heals through the adhesive and is replaced by a normal bone tissue. This adhesive composition meets many of the clinical unmet needs expressed in the literature, and may, after further preclinical assessments, have potential in the repair of bone and osteochondral fragments.

Exploring the GLP-1-GLP-1R axis in porcine pancreas and gastrointestinal tract in vivo by ex vivo autoradiography.

INTRODUCTION: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) increases insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells and GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are widely used as treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Studying occupancy of the GLP-1R in various tissues is challenging due to lack of quantitative, repeatable assessments of GLP-1R density. The present study aimed to describe the quantitative distribution of GLP-1Rs and occupancy by endogenous GLP-1 during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in pigs, a species that is used in biomedical research to model humans. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: GLP-1R distribution and occupancy were measured in pancreas and gastrointestinal tract by ex vivo autoradiography using the GLP-1R-specific radioligand 177Lu-exendin-4 in two groups of pigs, control or bottle-fed an oral glucose load. Positron emission tomography (PET) data from pigs injected with 68Ga-exendin-4 in a previous study were used to retrieve data on biodistribution of GLP-1R in the gastrointestinal tract. RESULTS: High homogenous uptake of 177Lu-exendin-4 was found in pancreas, and even higher uptake in areas of duodenum. Low uptake of 177Lu-exendin-4 was found in stomach, jejunum, ileum and colon. During OGTT, there was no increase in plasma GLP-1 concentrations and occupancy of GLP-1Rs was low. The ex vivo autoradiography results were highly consistent with to the biodistribution of 68Ga-exendin-4 in pigs scanned by PET. CONCLUSION: We identified areas with similarities as well as important differences regarding GLP-1R distribution and occupancy in pigs compared with humans. First, there was strong ligand binding in the exocrine pancreas in islets. Second, GLP-1 secretion during OGTT is minimal and GLP-1 might not be an important incretin in pigs under physiological conditions. These findings offer new insights on the relevance of porcine diabetes models.

Si-Fe-C-N Coatings for Biomedical Applications: A Combinatorial Approach.

Ceramic coatings may prolong the lifetime of joint implants. Certain ions and wear debris may however lead to negative biological effects. SiN-based materials may substantially reduce these effects, but still need optimization for the application. In this study, a combinatorial deposition method enabled an efficient evaluation of a range of Si-Fe-C-N coating compositions on the same sample. The results revealed compositional gradients of Si (26.0-33.9 at.%), Fe (9.6-20.9 at.%), C (8.2-13.9 at.%) and N (39.7-47.2 at.%), and low oxygen contaminations (0.3-0.6 at.%). The mechanical properties varied with a hardness (H) ranging between 13.7-17.3 GPa and an indentation modulus (M) between 190-212 GPa. Both H and M correlated with the Si (H and M increased as Si increased) and Fe (H and M decreased as Fe increased) content. A slightly columnar morphology was observed in cross-sections, as well as a surface roughness in the nm range. A cell study revealed adhering pre-osteogenic MC3T3 cells, with a morphology similar to that of cells seeded on a tissue culture plastic control. The investigated coatings could be considered for further investigation due to the ability to tune their mechanical properties while maintaining a smooth surface, together with their promising in vitro cell response.

Zebrafish embryo as a replacement model for initial biocompatibility studies of biomaterials and drug delivery systems.

The development of new biomaterials and drug delivery systems necessitates animal experimentation to demonstrate biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy. Reduction and replacement of the requirement to conduct experiment using full-grown animals has been achieved through utilising zebrafish embryos, a promising bridge model between in vitro and in vivo research. In this review, we consider how zebrafish embryos have been utilised to test both the biocompatibility of materials developed to interact with the human body and drug release studies. Furthermore, we outline the advantages and limitations of this model and review legal and ethical issues. We anticipate increasing application of the zebrafish model for biomaterial evaluation in the near future. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This review aims to evaluate the potential application and suitability of the zebrafish model in the development of biomaterials and drug delivery systems. It creates scientific impact and interest because replacement models are desirable to the society and the scientific community. The continuous development of biomaterials calls for the need to provide solutions for biological testing. This review covers the topic of how the FET model can be applied to evaluate biocompatibility. Further, it explores the zebrafish from the wild-type to the mutant form, followed by a discussion about the ethical considerations and concerns when using the FET model.

A biomechanical test model for evaluating osseous and osteochondral tissue adhesives.

BACKGROUND: Currently there are no standard models with which to evaluate the biomechanical performance of calcified tissue adhesives, in vivo. We present, herein, a pre-clinical murine distal femoral bone model for evaluating tissue adhesives intended for use in both osseous and osteochondral tissue reconstruction. RESULTS: Cylindrical cores (diameter (Ø) 2 mm (mm) × 2 mm depth), containing both cancellous and cortical bone, were fractured out from the distal femur and then reattached using one of two tissue adhesives. The adhesiveness of fibrin glue (Tisseeltm), and a novel, biocompatible, calcium phosphate-based tissue adhesive (OsStictm) were evaluated by pullout testing, in which glued cores were extracted and the peak force at failure recorded. The results show that Tisseel weakly bonded the metaphyseal bone cores, while OsStic produced > 30-fold higher mean peak forces at failure (7.64 Newtons (N) vs. 0.21 N). The failure modes were consistently disparate, with Tisseel failing gradually, while OsStic failed abruptly, as would be expected with a calcium-based material. Imaging of the bone/adhesive interface with microcomputed tomography revealed that, for OsStic, failure occurred more often within cancellous bone (75% of tested samples) rather than at the adhesive interface. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the challenges associated with biomechanical testing in small rodent models the preclinical ex-vivo test model presented herein is both sensitive and accurate. It enabled differences in tissue adhesive strength to be quantified even for very small osseous fragments (<Ø4mm). Importantly, this model can easily be scaled to larger animals and adapted to fracture fragment fixation in human bone. The present model is also compatible with other long-term in vivo evaluation methods (i.e. in vivo imaging, histological analysis, etc.).

In vivo response to a low-modulus PMMA bone cement in an ovine model.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is the most commonly used material for the treatment of osteoporosis-induced vertebral compression fractures. However, its high stiffness may introduce an increased risk of adjacent vertebral fractures post-surgery. One alternative in overcoming this concern is the use of additives. This presents its own challenge in maintaining an adequate biocompatibility when modifying the base cement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo biocompatibility of linoleic acid (LA)-modified acrylic bone cement using a large animal model for the first time, in order to further advance towards clinical use. A worst-case approach was used, choosing a slow-setting base cement. The in vitro monomer release from the cements was also assessed. Additional material characterization, including mechanical tests, are summarized in Appendix A. Unmodified and LA-modified cements were injected into a total of 56 bone defects created in the femur and humerus of sheep. Histopathologic and histomorphometric analysis indicated that LA-modified cement showed a harmless tissue response similar to that of the unmodified cement. Adjacent bone remodeling was observed microscopically 4 weeks after implantation, suggesting a normal healing process of the bone tissues surrounding the implant. LA-modified cement exhibited lower mechanical properties, with a reduction in the elastic modulus of up to 65%. The handling properties were slightly modified without negatively affecting the injectability of the base cement. LA-modified bone cement showed good biocompatibility as well as bone compliant mechanical properties and may therefore be a promising material for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The benefits of using linoleic acid to reduce the stiffness of poly(methyl methacrylate) bone cement has been demonstrated previously, with the in vitro and in vivo response of the modified cement in small animals reported as comparable to the base cement. However, biocompatibility evaluation of modified cement in large animal models for future clinical use has yet to be performed. In this study, modified and unmodified cements were injected into bone defects created in sheep. We showed that the inflammatory response of the modified cement was similar to the base cement, allowing remodelling of the bone surrounding the implant. This demonstrates the potential of low-modulus PMMA cement in the field of bone augmentation.

Remodelling of human bone on the chorioallantoic membrane of the chicken egg: De novo bone formation and resorption.

Traditionally used as an angiogenic assay, the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay of the chick embryo offers significant potential as an in vivo model for xenograft organ culture. Viable human bone can be cultivated on the CAM and increases in bone volume are evident; however, it remains unclear by what mechanism this change occurs and whether this reflects the physiological process of bone remodelling. In this study we tested the hypothesis that CAM-induced bone remodelling is a consequence of host and graft mediated processes. Bone cylinders harvested from femoral heads post surgery were placed on the CAM of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-chick embryos for 9 days, followed by micro computed tomography (µCT) and histological analysis. Three-dimensional registration of consecutive µCT-scans showed newly mineralised tissue in CAM-implanted bone cylinders, as well as new osteoid deposition histologically. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of bone resorption and formation markers (Cathepsin K, SOX9 and RUNX2) co-localising with GFP staining, expressed by avian cells only. To investigate the role of the human cells in the process of bone formation, decellularised bone cylinders were implanted on the CAM and comparable increases in bone volume were observed, indicating that avian cells were responsible for the bone mineralisation process. Finally, CAM-implantation of acellular collagen sponges, containing bone morphogenetic protein 2, resulted in the deposition of extracellular matrix and tissue mineralisation. These studies indicate that the CAM can respond to osteogenic stimuli and support formation or resorption of implanted human bone, providing a humanised CAM model for regenerative medicine research and a novel short-term in vivo model for tissue engineering and biomaterial testing.

Harnessing Nanotopography to Enhance Osseointegration of Clinical Orthopedic Titanium Implants-An in Vitro and in Vivo Analysis.

Despite technological advancements, further innovations in the field of orthopedics and bone regeneration are essential to meet the rising demands of an increasing aging population and associated issues of disease, injury and trauma. Nanotopography provides new opportunities for novel implant surface modifications and promises to deliver further improvements in implant performance. However, the technical complexities of nanotopography fabrication and surface analysis have precluded identification of the optimal surface features to trigger osteogenesis. We herein detail the osteoinductive potential of discrete nanodot and nanowire nanotopographies. We have examined the ability of modified titanium and titanium alloy (Ti64) surfaces to induce bone-specific gene activation and extracellular matrix protein expression in human skeletal stem cells (SSCs) in vitro, and de novo osteogenic response within a murine calvarial model in vivo. This study provides evidence of enhanced osteogenic response to nanowires 300 surface modifications, with important implications for clinical orthopedic application.

Non-invasive tri-modal visualisation via PET/SPECT/µCT of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 retention and associated bone regeneration: A proof of concept.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP's) are vital for bone and cartilage formation, where bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is acknowledged as a growth factor in osteoblast differentiation. However, uncontrolled delivery may result in adverse clinical effects. In this study we investigated the possibility for longitudinal and non-invasive monitoring of implanted [125I]BMP-2 retention and its relation to ossification at the site of implantation. A unilateral critically sized femoral defect was produced in the left limb of rats while the right femur was retained intact as a paired reference control. The defect was filled with a hyaluronan hydrogel with 25% hydroxyapatite alone (carrier control; n = 2) or combined with a mixture of [125I]BMP-2 (150 µg/ml; n = 4). Bone formation was monitored using micro computed tomography (µCT) scans at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 weeks. The retention of [125I]BMP-2 was assessed with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and the bone healing process was followed with sodium fluoride (Na18F) using positron emission tomography (PET) at day 3 and at week 2, 4, and 6. A rapid burst release of [125I]BMP-2 was detected via SPECT. This was followed by a progressive increase in uptake levels of [18F]fluoride depicted by PET imaging that was confirmed as bone formation via µCT. We propose that this functional, non-invasive imaging method allows tri-modal visualisation of the release of BMP-2 and the following in vivo response. We suggest that the potential of this novel technique could be considered for preclinical evaluation of novel smart materials on bone regeneration.