Nanostructured monticellite for tissue engineering applications � Part II: Molecular and biological characteristics

Silicon (Si)- and magnesium (Mg)-containing bioceramics have recently gained much attention for tissue engineering applications due to their ability to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation along with their adequate microstructural and physicochemical characteristics. In this study, nanostructured monticellite (CaMgSiO4, 33.33 of Mg) was chosen as an appealing biomaterial to identify time- and dose-dependent cytocompatibility, in vitro osteogenic activity and antibacterial & anti-biofilm activity. A time- and dose-dependent MTT assay illustrated that monticellite nanoparticles promoted proliferation of bone like cell considerably more than positive and negative controls. The cell viability of the bioceramic was higher than hydroxyapatite (HA, as bone inorganic material) and control sample, demonstrating that cytocompatibility was promoted due to the increase of Mg content. The results of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity test demonstrated that the osteogenic proliferation of osteoblast-like G292 cell line enhanced more by the bioceramics extract than control and HA, corroborating when Mg content of the calcium-silicate bioceramics is increased cytocompatibility and bioactivity are significantly promoted. Moreover, further analyses revealed that the bioceramic possessed antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties due to the presence of Mg, Si and Ca elements in the structure. These findings suggest that the proposed nanostructured monticellite is a promising biomaterial for further applications in tissue engineering. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l

Nanostructured monticellite for tissue engineering applications - Part I: Microstructural and physicochemical characteristics

In this study, nanostructured monticellite (CaMgSiO4) bioceramics were prepared via sintering the sol�gel-derived monticellite powder compacts at 1200 °C. The mean of particles size distribution of the synthesized monticellite powders was approximately 90 nm. After evaluating physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized bioceramics, apatite-forming ability of the samples were examined in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different time periods. The soaking effect of various time periods on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, followed by the calculations from scherrer's equation, showed that the crystallite size of the immersed monticellite ceramics in SBF for 3 and 7 days was around 88 nm. Williamson-Hall analysis was also used to calculate the lattice strain of the samples. Based on the results, by changing the soaking time, crystallite size and lattice strain have meaningfully changed. The release of Ca, Mg and Si ions from the nanostructured monticellite significantly promoted cell proliferation and growth at a certain concentration range more than that of positive and negative controls. This study could provide an in-depth understanding of the microstructural and physicochemical characteristics of this class of biomaterials. The follow-up studies should correlate the microstructural and physicochemical properties to the molecular and biological characteristics for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l

Nanostructured monticellite for tissue engineering applications - Part I: Microstructural and physicochemical characteristics

In this study, nanostructured monticellite (CaMgSiO4) bioceramics were prepared via sintering the sol�gel-derived monticellite powder compacts at 1200 °C. The mean of particles size distribution of the synthesized monticellite powders was approximately 90 nm. After evaluating physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized bioceramics, apatite-forming ability of the samples were examined in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different time periods. The soaking effect of various time periods on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, followed by the calculations from scherrer's equation, showed that the crystallite size of the immersed monticellite ceramics in SBF for 3 and 7 days was around 88 nm. Williamson-Hall analysis was also used to calculate the lattice strain of the samples. Based on the results, by changing the soaking time, crystallite size and lattice strain have meaningfully changed. The release of Ca, Mg and Si ions from the nanostructured monticellite significantly promoted cell proliferation and growth at a certain concentration range more than that of positive and negative controls. This study could provide an in-depth understanding of the microstructural and physicochemical characteristics of this class of biomaterials. The follow-up studies should correlate the microstructural and physicochemical properties to the molecular and biological characteristics for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l