Objective To fabricate a novel composite scaffold with acellular demineralized bone matrix/acellular nucleus pulposus matrix and to verify the feasibility of using it as a scaffold for intervertebral disc tissue engineering through detecting physical and chemical properties. Methods Pig proximal femoral cancellous bone rings (10 mm in external diameter, 5 mm in internal diameter, and 3 mm in thickness) were fabricated, and were dealed with degreasing, decalcification, and decellularization to prepare the annulus fibrosus phase of scaffold. Nucleus pulposus was taken from pig tails, decellularized with Triton X-100 and deoxycholic acid, crushed and centrifugalized to prepare nucleus pulposus extracellular mtrtix which was injected into the center of annulus fibrosus phase. Then the composite scaffold was freeze-dryed, cross-linked with ultraviolet radiation/carbodiimide and disinfected for use. The scaffold was investigated by general observation, HE staining, and scanning electron microscopy, as well as porosity measurement, water absorption rate, and compressive elastic modulus. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were cultured with different concentrations of scaffold extract (25%, 50%, and 100%) to assess cytotoxicity of the scaffold. The cell viability of ADSCs seeded on the scaffold was detected by Live/Dead staining. Results The scaffold was white by general observation. The HE staining revealed that there was no cell fragments on the scaffold, and the dye homogeneously distributed. The scanning electron microscopy showed that the pore of the annulus fibrosus phase interconnected and the pore size was uniform; acellular nucleus pulposus matrix microfilament interconnected forming a uniform network structure, and the junction of the scaffold was closely connected. The novel porous scaffold had a good pore interconnectivity with (343.00 ± 88.25) µm pore diameter of the annulus fibrosus phase, 82.98% ± 7.02% porosity and 621.53% ± 53.31% water absorption rate. The biomechanical test showed that the compressive modulus of elasticity was (89.07 ± 8.73) kPa. The MTT test indicated that scaffold extract had no influence on cell proliferation. Live/Dead staining showed that ADSCs had a good proliferation on the scaffold and there was no dead cell. Conclusion Novel composite scaffold made of acellular demineralized bone matrix/acellular nucleus pulposus matrix has good pore diameter and porosity, biomechanical properties close to natural intervertebral disc, non-toxicity, and good biocompatibility, so it is a suitable scaffold for intervertebral disc tissue engineering.
Objective To investigate whether combining use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and decalcified bone matrix (DBM) has synergistic action on promoting bone consol idation and heal ing. Methods Forty male New Zealand rabbits (weighing 2.2-2.8 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10). The whole blood was extracted from the central aural artery and PRP was prepared with the Landesberg’s method. An 1 cm-defect was made below the tibiofibular joint of the lefttibia through osteotomy. In group A, defect was repaired by distraction osteogenesis (1 cm); in group B, defect was repaired with 0.5 cm DBM and then by distraction osteogenesis (0.5 cm); in group C, defect was repaired by distraction osteogenesis (1 cm) and local injection of 1 mL PRP; in group D, defect was repaired by 0.5 cm DBM combined with 1 mL PRP and then by distraction osteogenesis (0.5 cm). Then lengthening started at 7 days after operation, at a rate of 1 mm/day and 0.5 mm every time for 10 days (groups A and C) or for 5 days (groups B and D). After the lengthening, the consolidation was performed. The X-ray films were taken at 0, 12, 17, 27, and 37 days after operation. At 37 days after operation, the tibial specimens were harvested for Micro-CT scanning, three-dimensional reconstruction and biomechanical test. Results The X-ray films showed that new bone formation in groups B and C was obviously better than that in groups A and D at 37 days. The bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone volume fraction (BVF) of groups B and C were significantly higher than those of groups A and D (P lt; 0.05); the BMD and BMC of group C were significantly higher than those of group B (P lt; 0.05); the BVF had no significant difference between groups B and C (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in BMD, BMC, and BVF between groups A and D (P gt; 0.05). The trabecula number (Tb.N) of group C was significantly more than that of other groups (P lt; 0.05), and the trabecula spacing (Tb.Sp) of group C was significantly smaller than that of other groups (P lt; 0.05), but no significant differencewas found among other groups (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the trabecula thickness among 4 groups (P gt; 0.05). The ultimate angular displacement had no significant difference among 4 groups (P gt; 0.05). The maximum torque of groups B and C was significantly higher than that of groups A and D (P lt; 0.05); the maximum torque of group C was significantly higher than that of group B (P lt; 0.05); no significant difference was found between groups A and D (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion In the rabbit bone defect/lengthening model, local injection of PRP can enhance bone consol idation effectively during consol idation phase. In normal distraction rate, DBM can promote bone consol idation during distraction osteogenesis. In the early stage of distraction osteogenesis, combining use of DBM and PRP can not further promote bone consolidation and healing.
Objective Tissue engineered bone (TEB) lacks of an effective and feasible method of storage and transportation. To evaluate the activity of osteogenesis and capabil ity of ectopic osteogenesis for TEB after freeze-dried treatment in vitro and in vivo and to explore a new method of preserving and transporting TEB. Methods Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) and decalcified bone matrix (DBM) were harvested from bone marrow and bone tissue of the healthy donators. TEB was fabricated with the 3rd passage hBMSCs and DBM, and they were frozen and dried at extremely low temperatures after 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 15 days of culture in vitro to obtain freeze-dried tissue engineered bone (FTEB). TEB and FTEB were observed by gross view and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Western blot was used to detect the changes of relative osteogenic cytokines, including bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and insul in-l ike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) between TEB and FTEB. The ectopic osteogenesis was evaluated by the methods of X-ray, CT score, and HE staining after TEB and FTEB were transplanted into hypodermatic space in athymic mouse. Results SEM showed that the cells had normal shape in TEB, and secretion of extracellular matrix increased with culture time; in FTEB, seeding cells were killed by the freeze-dried process, and considerable extracellular matrix were formed in the pore of DBM scaffold. The osteogenic cytokines (BMP-2, TGF-β1, and IGF-1) in TEB were not decreased after freeze-dried procedure, showing no significant difference between TEB and FTEB (P gt; 0.05) except TGF-β1 15 days after culture (P lt; 0.05). The ectopic osteogenesis was observed in TEB and FTEB groups 8 and 12 weeks after transplantation, there was no significant difference in the calcified level of grafts between TEB and FTEB groups by the analysis of X-ray and CT score. On the contrary, there was no ectopic osteogenesis in group DBM 12 weeks after operation. HE staining showed that DBM scaffold degraded and disappeared 12 weeks after operation. Conclusion The osteogenic activity of TEB and FTEB is similar, which provides a new strategy to preserve and transport TEB.
Objective To evaluate the biocompatibil ity of manufactured heterogeneous demineral ized bone matrix(DBM) particles and to provide basis for further experimental study and cl inical application. Methods Heterogeneous DBMparticles A (degreased and demineralized) and B (degreased, demineralized and acellular), particle size from 250 to 810 μm, and leaching l iquor were made with a series of physical and chemical methods from pig l imbs cortical bone. The residual calcium and phosphorus contents of bone particles were measured after degreased and demineral ized. The acute toxicity test, skin stimulating test, pyrogeneous test, hemolysis test, cellular toxicity test and muscular embedded test were carried out according standard toxicological method. Results The contents of calcium and phosphorus in cortical bone were (189.09 ± 3.12) mg/g and (124.73 ± 2.87) mg/g, and in demineral ized bone matrix particles were (3.48 ± 0.09) mg/g and (3.46 ± 0.07) mg/ g. The residual calcium content was 1.87%, of phosphorus was 2.69%. The activity of mice was normal in the acute toxicity test. No animal died and no toxicity symptom or adverse effects were shown within 7 days. The mean weight daily increased showed no statistically significant difference (P gt; 0.05) between two groups after 7 days. Skin stimulating reactions were not found in the two experimental groups and negative control group by intradermal stimulation test. The maximal increase of body temperature in two experimental groups were 0.4℃ , which meet the national standard (lt; 0.6 ). The rate of haemolysis to the leaching liquor was 1.14% (A) and 0.93% (B), which was lower than the national standard (lt; 5%). The cell prol iferation rates of two experimental groups when compared with control group showed no statistically significant difference (P gt; 0.05). The toxicity of DBM particlesleaching liquor was graded from 0 to 1, which means the material has no cytotoxicity. All the animals survived well. There was no tissue necrosis, effusion or inflammation at all implantation sites. For the index of HE and Masson staining, there were no effusion around the material and inflammatory cell infiltrate obviously in two experimental groups. Inflammatory cell infiltrate is sl ight in control group 2 weeks postoperatively. The inflammatory cell infiltration was mitigate gradually over time in two experimental groups after 4, 8 and 12 weeks. New bone and collagen fibers formation were observed when the material was degraded and absorpted. Score evaluation of local cellular immune response at different time after operation of two experimental groups showed no statistically significant difference (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Heterogeneous DBM has no obvious toxicity, skin irritation, pyrogenicity, and no cytotoxicity with a rate of haemolysis lt; 5%, so it has good biocompatibility and partial osteoinductive.
Objective To evaluate the adhesion, prol iferation and osteogenic differentiation of rabbit BMSCs after cultured on freeze-dried demineral ized bone matrix (FDBM) modified with type II cadherin ectodomain (Cad- II). Methods BMSCs isolated from 10 Japanese white rabbits (male and female, 4-week-old, 0.61-0.88 kg) were cultured. The second generation of BMSCs (cell density 1 × 106 /mL) were seeded onto the Cad-II modified allogenic FDBM (experimental group) and only FDBM (control group) respectively, and then cocultured in vitro. The densities of seeded cells, the adhesion rate and their ALP activity were measured. The complex was observed through inverted phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope to evaluate the interaction between cells and FDBM. Another group of second generation of BMSCs (cell density 5 × 105 /mL) were seeded onto the Cad-II modified FDBM (experimental group) and only FDBM (control group) respectively, and then cocultured in vitro too. The ALP activity and osteocalcin immunohistochemical was measured. Results There was no significant difference in cell prol iferation between experimental group and control group. The adhesion rate of cells in the experimental group was 87.41% ± 5.19%, higher than that in the the control group 35.56% ± 1.75% (P lt; 0.01); the densities of seeded cells reached 5.0 × 105, showing significant difference compared with the control group (2.6 × 104, P lt; 0.05). Inverted phase contrast microscope showed that in the experimental group, more cultured BMSCs pasted in the hole and edge of the scaffold than that in the control group. HE staining showed the densities of seeded cells in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group. Scanning electron microscope showed that in the experimental group, a lot of cultured BMSCs adhered, spreaded in the scaffold, in the control group only a few BMSCs unevenly distributed in the scaffold. After 7 days of culture, the cultured BMSCs on modified FDBM expressed higher ALP activity; after 14 days of culture, the ALP activity (29.33 ± 1.53) was higher than that cultured on unmodified FDBM (18.31 ± 1.32), the positive rates of osteocucl in were 83% ± 7% in the experimental group and 56% ± 7% in the control group, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion Cad-II enhanced cell adhesion to FDBM and promoted BMSCs differentiate to osteoblast, but no obvious effects were observed in cell prol iferation.
Objective To evaluate the tissue response induced by three kinds of bone transplantation materials implanted in rat so as to provide proper evidence for their cl inical appl ication. Methods Thirty-six healthy mature Sprague- Dawly mice, weighing from 229 g to 358 g, were randomly assigned to groups A and B (n=18). Three kinds of materials wereimplanted into muscles of rats. Calcium sulfate (CS) granular preparations and allogeneic demineral ized bone matrix (DBM) were transplanted into the left (group A1) and right (group A2) thigh muscle pouches of group A. Respectively, whereas xenogenic DBM were transplanted into the left (group B1) thigh muscle pouches of group B and the right (group B2) sites were taken as control without implant. The samples (n=6) were collected to make the observation of gross and histology and to analyze histological score after 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Results The gross observation: implanted materials were gradually absorbed at late stage in group A1. No obvious degradation and absorption, but fibrosis of tissues were observed in group A2 and B1. The inflammatory reactions were more severe in groups A2 and B1. In group B2, only the changes of scar were seen at operative site. The histological observation: no obvious inflammatory reactions were seen in group A1, CS were gradually absorbed and completely absorbed at 6 weeks, while fibrosis of tissues increased at late stage. Inflammatory reactions in group A2 and group B1 were alleviated gradually, no obvious absorption and degradation were observed. The different two DBM could induce granulation tissues and bone formation at different sites and secondary fibrosis with no obvious immune response was observed. In group B2, there was an increase in collagen fiber density and angiogenesis at late stage. The scores of inflammatory infiltration were significantly higher in groups A2, B1 than in groups A1, B2 (P lt; 0.05), and the scores of fibrosis was larger in groups A1, A2 and B1 than in group B2 (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion CS has rapid dissolution and good biocompatibil ity. It is a good replaceable packing materials of bone defects in some upper l imb’s or acute bone fracture. Both of two DBM have biocompatibil ity and osteoinductive potential, which dissolution are very slow. Due to these capacity, they can be served as an ideal materials in treatment of lower l imb’s bone defect and nonunion.
Objective To evaluate the effect of implantation of the complex of high viscous chitosan/glycerol phosphate with demineral ized bone matrix (HV-C/GP-DBM) in repairing cartilage defects of rabbits. Methods HV-C/ GPDBM was prepared by compounding HV-C/GP and DBM by 2:1 (W/W). Twenty-four 34-week-old New Zealand white adult rabbits, weighing 3.5-4.5 kg, were included. A bit with the diameter of 3.5 mm was used to drill 3-cm-deep holes in both sides of femoral condyle to make cartilage defects. The complex of HV-C/GP-DBM was then injected into the right holes as the experimental group and the left ones serve as the control group. The rabbits were killed at 4, 8 and 16 weeks after theoperation, respectively. The obtained specimens were observed macroscopically, microscopically and histologically. According to the International Cartilage Repair Society Histological Scoring (ICRS), the effect of cartilage repair was assessed at 16 weeks postoperatively. Results At 4-8 weeks postoperatively, in the experimental group, the defects were filled with hyal ine cartilage-l ike tissues; the majority of chitosan degradated; and the DBM particles were partly absorbed. However, in the control group, there were small quantities of discontinuous fibrous tissues and maldistributed chondrocytes at the border and the bottom of the defects. At 16 weeks postoperatively, 6 joints in the experimental group had smooth surface, and the defects were basically repaired by hyal ine cartilage-l ike tissues. The newly-formed tissues integrated well with the surrounding area. Under the cartilage, the new bone formation was still active and some DBM particles could be seen. However, the defects in the control group were repaired by fibrous tissues. The result of histological scoring of the specimens at 16 weeks showed that a total of 6 aspects including formation of chondrocytes and integration with the surrounding cartilages were superior in the experimental group to those in the control group, and there were significant differences between the two groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The biodegradable and injectable complex of HV-C/GP-DBM with good histocompatibil ity and non-toxic side effects can repair cartilage defects and is a promising biomaterial for cartilage defect repair.
Objective To explore the method of fabricating freeze-dried demineralized bone matrix with nanoscale topography (nFDBM) and to investigate the feasibility of reconstruction of tissueengineered bone with the novel scaffold. Methods Allogenic dogs’ phalangeal cortical bone was fabricatedinto freeze-dried demineralized bone (FDBM) with modified Urist’s method. FDBM was subjected toNd∶YAG laser irradiation under special conditions. The surface topography was identified by atomic force microscope(AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The osteoblasts were induced from autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and mixed with nFDBM and FDBM in vitro.The effects of the different topography oncellbehavior was identified by SEM. The complex of nFDBM and osteoblasts wereimplanted into fascial bags on dogs’ back (experimental group A) and dogs’ phalangeal defects on right (experimental group C), while FDBMosteoblast complex (control group B) and unique FDBM (control group D) were implanted into the corresponding sites on left as control groups. The osteogenic status was assessed by X-ray, HE and SEM at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. Results The surface of FDBM subjected to Nd∶YAG laser irradiation resulted in well-defined three-dimensional nanoscale grooves (150 nm in depth and 600 to 800 nm in width). When the osteoblasts were implanted on the scaffold, the cells adhering to nFDBM were morethan those to FDBM and secreted more extracellular matrix. Either new bone-likethin layer on the nanoscale surface or a lot of new boneformation inner the experimental complex was observed by HE after 12 weeks of surgery and the experimental complexes were partially calcified at the same time, while the control groups almost had no osteogenic phenomena. Conclusion Nd∶YAG laser could produce nanoscale grooves on the FDBM surface. The nanoscale grooves are conductive to adherence, proliferation and matrix secretion of osteoblasts. Complexes by tissue engineering and nanoscale technology have some osteogenic abilities in vivoafter implanted the animal model.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the feasibility of freeze-dried demineralized bone matrix (FDBM) as scaffold material in bone tissue engineering. METHODS Osteoblasts which were isolated from cranial periosteum of New Zealand rabbits were cultured as the seeding cells, then the cells were cocultured with heterogenous FDBM in vitro. The cell-material complex was observed under phase microscope, light microscope and electronic scanning microscope in order to evaluate the interaction between cells and FDBM. RESULTS Eight hours after coculture, the osteoblasts adhered to FDBM scaffolds. Seven days later, the osteoblasts differentiated and proliferated in FDBM network. Extracellular matrix was secreted and calcium nodes were formed among osteoblasts. CONCLUSION FDBM is a good scaffold material for the bone tissue engineering.