Ultrasound stimulus to enhance the bone regeneration capability of gelatin cryogels

In the present study, gelatin-based cryogels have been seeded with human SAOS-2 osteoblasts. In order to overcome the drawbacks associated with in vitro culture systems, such as limited diffusion and inhomogeneous cell-matrix distribution, this work describes the application of ultrasounds (average power, 149 mW; frequency, 1.5 MHz) to physically enhance the cell culture in vitro. The results indicate that the physical stimulation of cell-seeded gelatin-based cryogels upregulates the bone matrix production

Editorial: Cells, biomaterials, and biophysical stimuli for bone, cartilage, and muscle regeneration

Over the last few years, a variety of Tissue Engineering strategies have been developed to improve the regeneration of bone, cartilage, and skeletal muscle. Numerous studies have proven that physical factors (e.g., external forces, electromagnetic waves, electric fields, ultrasounds, lasers, fluid flow shear stresses, mechanical vibrations, mechanical deformations, and biomaterials’ features), as well as biochemical factors, may induce cells to reprogram their functions and dynamically adapt to the microenvironment conditions. In this context, many efforts are dedicated to engineer the biomaterial scaffolds, the physical stimuli, and the biochemical cues to whom the mammalian cells respond in terms of proliferation, differentiation, and production of extracellular matrix. Effective regeneration of bone, cartilage, and skeletal muscle defects often presents significant challenges, particularly in patients with decreased tissue regeneration ability due to extensive trauma, diseases, or aging

Surface modification of a porous polyurethane through a culture of human osteoblasts and an electromagnetic bioreactor

There is increasing interest in new biomaterials and new culture methods for bone tissue engineering, in order to produce, in vitro, living constructs able to integrate in the surrounding tissue. Using an electromagnetic bioreactor (magnetic field intensity, 2 mT; frequency, 75 Hz), we investigated the effects of electromagnetic stimulation on SAOS-2 human osteoblasts seeded onto a porous polyurethane. In comparison with control conditions, the electromagnetic stimulation caused higher cell proliferation, increased surface coating with decorin and type-I collagen, and higher calcium deposition. The immunolocalization of decorin and type-I collagen showed their colocalization in the cell-rich areas. The use of an electromagnetic bioreactor aimed at obtaining the surface modification of the porous polyurethane in terms of cell colonization and coating with calcified matrix. The superficially modified biomaterial could be used, in clinical applications, as an implant for bone repair