Enhanced mechanical performance and biological evaluation of a PLGA coated β-TCP composite scaffold for load-bearing applications

Porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) has been used for bone repair and replacement in clinics due to its excellent biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, and biodegradability. However, the application of β-TCP has been limited by its brittleness. Here, we demonstrated that an interconnected porous β-TCP scaffold infiltrated with a thin layer of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer showed improved mechanical performance compared to an uncoated β-TCP scaffold while retaining its excellent interconnectivity and biocompatibility. The infiltration of PLGA significantly increased the compressive strength of β-TCP scaffolds from 2.90 to 4.19 MPa, bending strength from 1.46 to 2.41 MPa, and toughness from 0.17 to 1.44 MPa, while retaining an interconnected porous structure with a porosity of 80.65%. These remarkable improvements in the mechanical properties of PLGA-coated β-TCP scaffolds are due to the combination of the systematic coating of struts, interpenetrating structural characteristics, and crack bridging. The in vitro biological evaluation demonstrated that rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs) adhered well, proliferated, and expressed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity on both the PLGA-coated β-TCP and the β-TCP. These results suggest a new strategy for fabricating interconnected macroporous scaffolds with significantly enhanced mechanical strength for potential load-bearing bone tissue regeneration.     

多光谱成像无损识别冻融猪肉中危害级碎骨

冻融猪肉作为肉制品加工原料,被广泛应用于无骨肉制品加工。该原料中的危害级碎骨（1～2.5 cm）对后期加工及食用安全均有较大风险。因此,开展多光谱成像技术（405～970 nm）快速无损识别冻融猪肉中碎骨的可行性研究十分必要。将195块肉片制备成65个无骨肉样、65个碎骨表面嵌入式肉样和65个碎骨内部嵌入式肉样,经冻融处理后采集其多光谱图像;再利用经典判别分析（CDA）进行图像分割,获得两类感兴趣区域（ROIs-1和ROIs-2）,并提取相应光谱和图像信息;最后运用支持向量机（SVM）和神经网络（NN）建立冻融猪肉危害级碎骨识别模型。结果显示：ROIs-2全光谱比ROIs-1全光谱有更好的识别能力,SVM和NN模型的精度均为100%,表明区域分割与模型精度密切相关。基于连续投影算法（SPA）筛选出六个关键波长（505,590,700,850,890和970 nm）,所提取的ROIs-2特征光谱可实现样品碎骨高精度识别,准确率为100%,进一步提升了识别效率。利用图像信息既能建立优越的SVM和NN碎骨识别模型,准确率分别为93.8%和93.33%,又能实现结果可视化,体现出优良的技术优势,但精度低于光谱识别模型。综上所述,多光谱成像技术可实现冻融猪肉危害级碎骨的高精度识别,为工业在线检测提供理论基础。     

MR imaging findings in recurrent primary osseous Ewing sarcoma

The objective of this study was to determine the value of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in diagnosing local recurrence of Ewing sarcoma. We retrospectively reviewed radiographs, Tc^99m-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) skeletal scintigraphy, computed tomography scans, and MR studies of 11 patients who had local recurrences of osseous Ewing sarcoma following initial responses to chemotherapy and local radiation. The MR images were compared to those of a control group of nine patients who had no evidence of relapse. T₁- and T₂-weighted MR images identified 9 of the 11 recurrences. Computed tomography was diagnostic in 4 of 6 cases evaluated, Tc^99m-MDP bone scintigraphy in 4 of 11 cases, and plain radiographs in 2 of 10. MR findings at relapse included changes in signal intensity, increased extent of abnormal marrow signal on T₁- and T₂-weighted images, and identification of a new soft tissue mass. These findings suggest that MR imaging is valuable in the routine follow-up of parimary osseous Ewing sarcoma.     

THE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OFPOLY-L-LACTIDE USED FOR THE INTERNALFIXATION OF BONE FRACTURE

1.INTRODUCTIONPolylactide(PLA)isabsorbablepolyester,whichhasbeenprovedtobewelltoleratedbytissuesandcanbemanufacturedforinternalfixationdevicesforexample,rods,pins,wires,tacks,platesandscrews.ItwasverydifficultytousethePLAinthecourseofmanufacturingtheinternalfixationscrewsofbonefracture,becauseofitsstrengthisnotstrongenoughtomeettheneedofthepracticaluse.Infact,poly-L-lactide(PLLA)hasbeenfoundamoresuitablepolymericmaterialforthistarget.II-7]Inrecentyears,L-lacticacidhasbeenindustrializ…     

Physical and chemical aspects of a new porous hydroxyapatite

The new engineered porous hydroxyapatite (EP-HA) described in this paper seems to be suitable as a bone substitute. Its physico-chemical characteristics and morphology are similar to those of natural bone. Study of its histological behaviour in humans revealed bone formation within and around the porous hydroxyapatite that is markedly resorbed.     

Qualitative and quantitative ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging of cortical bone

We describe the use of two-dimensional ultrashort echo time (2D UTE) sequences with minimum TEs of 8 μs to image and quantify cortical bone on a clinical 3T scanner. An adiabatic inversion pulse was used for long T(2) water and fat signal suppression. Adiabatic inversion prepared UTE acquisitions with varying TEs were used for T(2) measurement. Saturation recovery UTE acquisitions were used for T(1) measurement. Bone water concentration was measured with the aid of an external reference phantom. UTE techniques were evaluated on cadaveric specimens and healthy volunteers. A signal-to-noise ratio of around 30, contrast-to-noise ratio of around 27/20 between bone and muscle/fat were achieved in tibia in vivo with a nominal voxel size of 0.23 × 0.23 × 6.0 mm(3) in a scan time of 5 min. A mean T(1) of 223 ± 11 ms and mean T(2) of 390 ± 19 μs were found. Mean bone water concentrations of 23.3 ± 1.6% with UTE and 21.7 ± 1.3% with adiabatic inversion prepared UTE sequences were found in tibia in five normal volunteers. The results show that in vivo qualitative and quantitative evaluation of cortical bone is feasible with 2D UTE sequences.     

Box-modeling of bone and tooth phosphate oxygen isotope compositions as a function of environmental and physiological parameters*

A time-dependent box model is developed to calculate oxygen isotope compositions of bone phosphate as a function of environmental and physiological parameters. Input and output oxygen fluxes related to body water and bone reservoirs are scaled to the body mass. The oxygen fluxes are evaluated by stoichiometric scaling to the calcium accretion and resorption rates, assuming a pure hydroxylapatite composition for the bone and tooth mineral. The model shows how the diet composition, body mass, ambient relative humidity and temperature may control the oxygen isotope composition of bone phosphate. The model also computes how bones and teeth record short-term variations in relative humidity, air temperature and δ¹⁸O of drinking water, depending on body mass. The documented diversity of oxygen isotope fractionation equations for vertebrates is accounted for by our model when for each specimen the physiological and diet parameters are adjusted in the living range of environmental conditions.     

Advances in the ultrastructural study of the implant-bone interface by backscattered electron imaging

The biocompatibility of titanium implants in bone depends on the response shown by cells in contact with the implant surface. Several developments have been targeted at achieving successful implant treatment. The aim of this study was to develop a novel preparation procedure to evaluate the bone cell response produced at the bone–implant interface using the technique scanning electron microscopy with backscattered electron imaging (SEM-BSE). Dental prostheses with an SLA-modified or TOP-modified surface were implanted in a toothless part of the mandibula in female pigs. The animals were sacrificed 12 weeks after surgery, at which time block specimens containing the implants were obtained. These specimens were then processed for SEM-BSE by optimizing a protocol involving chemical fixation and heavy metal staining. In addition, element distribution maps for the implant–bone tissue interface were obtained using a microanalytical system based on energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). This novel visualisation approach enabled a comprehensive study of the extracellular matrix and cell components of the host tissues neoformed around the implant. SEM-BSE images also provided ultrastructural details of the bone cells. This technique appears to be an effective and very promising tool for detailed studies on the implant–bone tissue interface and the host response to the bone incorporation process.     

Synthesis of dendritic bisphosphonates as bone targeting ligands

A dendritic bisphosphonate carrying three bisphosphonate (BP) units in close proximity was designed as a ligand to conjugate large therapeutic molecules for their bone selective delivery. The Bu₃P-catalyzed conjugate addition of nitromethane to vinylidene bisphosphonate was effective to construct a quaternary carbon center carrying BP units. Owing to multivalent interactions, the dendritic bisphosphonate showed considerable affinity for the bone mineral hydroxyapatite even in the presence of a competitor, demonstrating potential as a bone targeting ligand.     

Multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance study on deproteinized human bone

Irradiated samples of deproteinized powdered human bone (femur) have been examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in X, Q and W bands. In the bone powder sample only one type of CO2- radical ion is stabilized in the hydroxyapatite structure in contrast to powdered human tooth enamel, a material also containing hydroxyapatite, widely used for EPR dosimetry and in which a few radicals are stable at room temperature. It is suggested that the use of deproteinized bone for EPR dosimetry could improve the accuracy of dose determination.