Objective To review the research progress of promoting the bone formation at early stage by components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Methods Recent literature concerning the influence of these components on new bone formation and bone/implant contact was extensively reviewed and summarized. Results Coating of titanium or hydroxyapatite implants with organic components of the ECM (such as collagen type I, chondroitin sulfate, and Arg-Gly-Asp peptide) offers great potential to improve new bone formation and enhance bone/implant contact, which in turn will shorten recovery time and improve implant stability. Conclusion The increasing knowledge about the role of the ECM for recruitment, proliferation, differentiation of cells, and regeneration of tissue will eventually deal to the creating of an artificial ECM on the implant that could allow a defined adjustment of the required properties to support the healing process.
Objective To review the current researches of scaffold materials for skeletal muscle tissue engineering, to predict the development trend of scaffold materials in skeletal muscle tissue engineering in future. Methods The related l iterature on skeletal muscle tissue engineering, involving categories and properties of scaffold materials, preparative techniqueand biocompatibil ity, was summarized and analyzed. Results Various scaffold materials were used in skeletal muscle tissue engineering, including inorganic biomaterials, biodegradable polymers, natural biomaterial, and biomedical composites. According to different needs of the research, various scaffolds were prepared due to different biomaterials, preparative techniques, and surface modifications. Conclusion The development trend and perspective of skeletal muscle tissue engineering are the use of composite materials, and the preparation of composite scaffolds and surface modification according to the specific functions of scaffolds.
OBJECTIVE: To modify the surface of poly(D,L-lactide) film by anhydrous ammonia gaseous plasma treatment. METHODS: The changes of contact angles were measured and surface energy were calculated. Mouse 3T3 fibroblast cells were cultured on plasma modified and control poly(D,L-lactide) films. RESULTS: It was found that the hydrophilicity and surface energy of the materials have been increased after plasma treatment. Cell culture results showed that ammonia plasma treatment could promote the cell attachment and cells growth. After 4 days culture, the cells on the plasma treated films were 2-folds quantitatively compared with that of the control films. CONCLUSION: Ammonia plasma treatment can improve the cell affinity to poly(D,L-lactide).
Objective To summarize the physicochemical properties, manufacturing technique, and biological characteristics of porous tantalum and its application progress and related problems in spinal surgery. Methods The domestic and foreign related literature about porous tantalum was summarized and analyzed. Results Porous tantalum is characterized by high porosity, high coefficient of friction, low elastic modulus, good biocompatibility, and superior osseointegration capability. Its manufacture methods include chemical vapor deposition and infiltration technique, foam impregnation and powder metallurgy technique, and heat treatment method. Good clinical efficacy has achieved in the application of porous tantalum interbody fusion Cage in cervical and lumbar fusion surgery, but there is controversy in spinal fusion rate, especially in cervical fusion rate. Surface modification can increase the osseointegration capability of porous tantalum and intervertebral bony fusion. Conclusion Good clinical efficacy has achieved in the application of porous tantalum interbody fusion Cage in lumbar fusion surgery, while there is a dispute in cervical fusion surgery. In order to further observation, studies with more patients and longer follow-up would be needed.
Titanium and its alloys have become one of the most widely used implant materials in orthopedics because of their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Implant-associated infection is the main reason of failure of orthopedic implant surgery. The anti-infection modification of implant surface has received more attention in the field of infection prevention and developed rapidly. This article focuses on the current research status of simple anti-infection surface modifications that make titanium implants possess anti-adhesion, bactericidal activity or antibacterial membrane activity, as well as the research progress of composite functional surface modifications that promote bone integration, osteogenesis or immunomodulatory effects on the basis of anti-infection, so as to provide references for the construction of orthopedic implants with composite functions.
The surface morphology of titanium metal is an important factor affecting its hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, and exploring the surface treatment strategy of titanium metal is an important way to improve its biocompatibility. In this study, titanium (TA4) was firstly treated by large particle sand blasting and acid etching (SLA) technology, and then the obtained SLA-TA4 was treated by single surface treatments such as alkali-heat, ultraviolet light and plasma bombardment. According to the experimental results, alkali-heat treatment is the best treatment method to improve and maintain surface hydrophilicity of titanium. Then, the nanowire network morphology of titanium surface and its biological property, formed by further surface treatments on the basis of alkali-heat treatment, were investigated. Through the cell adhesion experiment of mouse embryonic osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1), the ability of titanium material to support cell adhesion and cell spreading was investigated after different surface treatments. The mechanism of biological activity difference of titanium surface formed by different surface treatments was investigated according to the contact angle, pit depth and roughness of the titanium sheet surface. The results showed that the SLA-TA4 titanium sheet after a treatment of alkali heat for 10 h and ultraviolet irradiation for 1 h has the best biological activity and stability. From the perspective of improving surface bioactivity of medical devices, this study has important reference value for relevant researches on surface treatment of titanium implantable medical devices.