Regenerating Articular Tissue by Converging Technologies

Scaffolds for osteochondral tissue engineering should provide mechanical stability, while offering specific signals for chondral and bone regeneration with a completely interconnected porous network for cell migration, attachment, and proliferation. Composites of polymers and ceramics are often considered to satisfy these requirements. As such methods largely rely on interfacial bonding between the ceramic and polymer phase, they may often compromise the use of the interface as an instrument to direct cell fate. Alternatively, here, we have designed hybrid 3D scaffolds using a novel concept based on biomaterial assembly, thereby omitting the drawbacks of interfacial bonding. Rapid prototyped ceramic particles were integrated into the pores of polymeric 3D fiber-deposited (3DF) matrices and infused with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) to obtain constructs that display the mechanical robustness of ceramics and the flexibility of polymers, mimicking bone tissue properties. Ostechondral scaffolds were then fabricated by directly depositing a 3DF structure optimized for cartilage regeneration adjacent to the bone scaffold. Stem cell seeded scaffolds regenerated both cartilage and bone in vivo

Composite biomaterials with chemical bonding between hydroxyapatite filler particles and PEG/PBT copolymer matrix

In an effort to make composites from hydroxyapatite and a PEG/PBT copolymer (PolyactiveTM 70/30), chemical linkages were introduced between the filler particles and polymer matrix using hexamethylene diisocyanate as a coupling agent. Infrared spectra (IR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the presence of PolyactiveTM 70/30 on the surface of HA filler particles. The amount of chemically bound polymer was 4.7 wt.%, as determined by TGA. The mechanical properties of the composites, that is, tensile strength and Young's modulus, were improved significantly by the introduction of a chemical linkage between the filler particles and polymer matrix compared to control composites. This method provides an effective way to introduce chemical linkage between HA filler particles and a polymer matrix. By optimizing the grafting process, a further improvement of the mechanical properties in the composites can be expected

Surface modification of nano-apatite by grafting organic polymer

Since surface properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) play an important role in its performance, surface modification of HA has gained much attention from researchers. Silane coupling agents have been the focus of the research. In this study, an effective surface modification method was developed using hexamethylene diisocyanate as a coupling agent. Polyethylene glycol (Mw=1500) was successfully coupled to the surface of nano-size apatite particles (nano-apatite). Various methods were used to characterize the surface-modified nano-apatite. Infra-red spectra confirmed the existence of a layer of polymer with both urethane and ether linkage on the surface of nano-apatite. The amount of grafted polymer as determined by total organic carbon analysis (TOC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was about 20% in weight. Solid 1H MAS NMR spectra indicated that the amount of hydroxyl groups of nano-apatite was decreased by 7.7% after surface grafting reaction. It is concluded that the surface hydroxyl groups of nano-apatite have the reactivity towards isocyanate groups

Bone ingrowth in porous titanium implants produced by 3D fiber deposition

3D fiber deposition is a technique that allows the development of metallic scaffolds with accurately controlled pore size, porosity and interconnecting pore size, which in turn permits a more precise investigation of the effect of structural properties on the in vivo behavior of biomaterials. This study analyzed the in vivo performance of titanium alloy scaffolds fabricated using 3D fiber deposition. The titanium alloy scaffolds with different structural properties, such as pore size, porosity and interconnecting pore size were implanted on the decorticated transverse processes of the posterior lumbar spine of 10 goats. Prior to implantation, implant structure and permeability were characterized. To monitor the bone formation over time, fluorochrome markers were administered at 3, 6 and 9 weeks and the animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks after implantation. Bone formation in the scaffolds was investigated by histology and histomorphometry of non-decalcified sections using traditional light- and epifluorescent microscopy. In vivo results showed that increase of porosity and pore size, and thus increase of permeability of titanium alloy implants positively influenced their osteoconductive properties. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved