One‐Step Labeling of Collagen Hydrogels with Polydopamine and Manganese Porphyrin for Non‐Invasive Scaffold Tracking on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Biomaterial scaffolds are the cornerstone to supporting 3D tissue growth. Optimized scaffold design is critical to successful regeneration, and this optimization requires accurate knowledge of the scaffold's interaction with living tissue in the dynamic in vivo milieu. Unfortunately, non‐invasive methods that can probe scaffolds in the intact living subject are largely underexplored, with imaging‐based assessment relying on either imaging cells seeded on the scaffold or imaging scaffolds that have been chemically altered. In this work, the authors develop a broadly applicable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method to image scaffolds directly. A positive‐contrast “bright” manganese porphyrin (MnP) agent for labeling scaffolds is used to achieve high sensitivity and specificity, and polydopamine, a biologically derived universal adhesive, is employed for adhering the MnP. The technique was optimized in vitro on a prototypic collagen gel, and in vivo assessment was performed in rats. The results demonstrate superior in vivo scaffold visualization and the potential for quantitative tracking of degradation over time. Designed with ease of synthesis in mind and general applicability for the continuing expansion of available biomaterials, the proposed method will allow tissue engineers to assess and fine‐tune the in vivo behavior of their scaffolds for optimal regeneration.     

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF FIBROBLAST DUROTAXIS MIGRATION INDUCED BY STIFFNESS GRADIENT OF SUBSTRATE1)

建立了一种细胞趋硬性迁移的理论模型和有限元分析框架,为连续变刚度人工基质的试验设计提供理论依据。考虑了细胞体的黏弹性属性,以及细胞与基质间的配受体动态反应过程,并以配受体合成时间为时间步长,将细胞运动方程化为静力学形式进行求解。对有限元过程提出一种动约束,便于消除其结构矩阵的奇异性。结果表明,模型能够模拟黏着斑内部力的快速波动现象,细胞的运动速度与观测数据一致,可有效模拟20,h以上的长时程问题。     

Porous shape memory polymers: Design and applications

Porous shape memory polymers (SMPs) exhibit geometric and volumetric shape change when actuated by an external stimulus and can be fabricated as foams, scaffolds, meshes, and other polymeric substrates that possess porous three-dimensional macrostructures. These materials have applications in multiple industries such as textiles, biomedical devices, tissue engineering, and aerospace. This review article examines recent developments in porous SMPs, with a focus on fabrication methods, methods of characterization, modes of actuation, and applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1300–1318     

聚乳酸组织工程支架结构的精密调控

采用糖球模板法结合热致相分离技术,制备了孔径尺寸、内连通度及孔隙率高度可控的左旋聚乳酸(PLLA)支架材料,并通过扫描电镜(SEM)、红外光谱(FTIR)以及示差扫描量热法(DSC)对其空间结构及性能进行了系统研究.支架材料孔径从50μm到800μm及内连通孔径从10μm到200μm连续可调,微观孔壁结构根据不同溶剂可形成各异的微纳米结构.支架的制备对PLLA化学结构无显著影响,但相分离过程会不同程度地降低PLLA的结晶度.     

皮肤组织容积脉搏波400~1000 nm光谱特性仿真研究

根据皮肤组织解剖结构特性建立了六层层状模型,并给出了皮肤组织各层的特性参数;考虑了氧合血红蛋白和还原血红蛋白的吸收特性,依据皮肤组织各层的水、血、脂肪、血氧饱和度含量以及血管大小给出了皮肤组织各层的光谱吸收系数;对不同波长散射系数做了适当简化,给出了皮肤组织各层的光谱散射系数。利用蒙特卡罗方法仿真血管组织在收缩与舒张两种状态下, 400~1 000 nm波长光在皮肤组织多层模型中的传输过程,并通过统计大量光子的分布特性,获得了皮肤组织光谱反射系数,并利用模拟所得的两种状态下的反射系数计算得到了光谱容积脉搏波幅度。仿真结果表明,当入射光强一定时,绿光的容积脉搏波幅度优于红光和蓝光。通过计算不同波长光沿皮肤组织深度方向光能流率衰减为1/e时对应的皮肤组织深度,获得了皮肤组织光谱穿透深度。结果显示,血管舒张状态下蓝光和绿光的穿透深度较小,蓝光大部分只能达到表皮层,绿光能到达微循环层,红光可直达真皮层。考虑到光在皮肤组织中传播包含了一个从收缩到舒张的动态过程,基于此,根据穿透深度定义了脉搏波信号产生深度,利用血管舒张与收缩两种不同状态下的穿透深度计算得到了光谱产生深度。结果表明,不同波长光产生深度大于其穿透深度,蓝光产生深度较浅,且其受到的血液吸收调制较小,因而其获得的脉搏信号易受噪声干扰;红光的容积脉搏波产生深度较大,但是相比于绿光其受血液吸收调制较小,且绿光产生深度足够达到真皮血管层,因而红光容积脉搏波的幅度小于绿光。上述仿真结果明确了皮肤组织部分光谱特性,为皮肤组织多光谱容积脉搏波的精确获取及其他相关研究提供了一定的理论基础。     

Poly(2‐oxazoline) Hydrogels: State‐of‐the‐Art and Emerging Applications

The synthesis of poly(2‐oxazoline)s has been known since the 1960s. In the last two decades, they have risen in popularity thanks to improvements in their synthesis and the realization of their potential in the biomedical field due to their “stealth” properties, stimuli responsiveness, and tailorable properties. Even though the bulk of the research to date has been on linear forms of the polymer, they are also of interest for creating network structures due to the relatively easy introduction of reactive functional groups during synthesis that can be cross‐linked under a variety of conditions. This opinion article briefly reviews the history of poly(2‐oxazoline)s and examines the in vivo data on soluble poly(2‐oxazoline)s to date in an effort to predict how hydrogels may perform as implantable materials. This is followed by an overview of the most recent hydrogel synthesis methods and emerging applications, and is concluded with a section on the future directions predicted for these fascinating yet underutilized polymers.     

Production and characterization of elastomeric cardiac tissue-like patches for Myocardial Tissue Engineering

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death. Damaged heart muscle is the etiology of heart failure. Heart failure is the most frequent cause of hospital and emergency room admissions. As a differentiated organ, current therapeutics and techniques can not repair or replace the damaged myocardial tissue. Myocardial tissue engineering is one of the promising treatment modalities for repairing damaged heart tissue in patients with heart failure. In this work, random Polylactic acid (PLA), Polylactic acid/Polyethylene glycol (PLA/PEG) and random and aligned Polylactic acid/Polyethylene glycol/Collagen (PLA/PEG/COL) nanofiber patches were successfully produced by the electrospinning technique. In vitro cytotoxic test (MTT), morphological (SEM), molecular interactions between the components (FT-IR), thermal analysis (DSC), tensile strength and physical analysis were carried out after production. The resulting nanofiber patches exhibited beadless and smooth structures. When the fiber diameters were examined, it was observed that the collagen doped random nanofiber patches had the lowest fiber diameter value (755 nm). Mechanical characterization results showed that aligned nanofiber patches had maximum tensile strength (5.90 MPa) values compared to PLA, PLA/PEG, and PLA/PEG/COL (random). In vitro degradation test reported that aligned patch had the highest degradation ratio. The produced patches displayed good alignment with tissue on cardiomyocyte cell morphology studies. In conclusion, newly produced patches have noticeable potential as a tissue-like cardiac patch for regeneration efforts after myocardial infarction.     

Antimicrobial Effect and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Mg-Doped Hydroxyapatite Functionalized with Au-Nano Rods

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is the main inorganic mineral that constitutes bone matrix and represents the most used biomaterial for bone regeneration. Over the years, it has been demonstrated that HA exhibits good biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, and osteoinductivity both in vitro and in vivo, and can be prepared by synthetic and natural sources via easy fabrication strategies. However, its low antibacterial property and its fragile nature restricts its usage for bone graft applications. In this study we functionalized a MgHA scaffold with gold nanorods (AuNRs) and evaluated its antibacterial effect against S. aureus and E. coli in both suspension and adhesion and its cytotoxicity over time (1 to 24 days). Results show that the AuNRs nano-functionalization improves the antibacterial activity with 100% bacterial reduction after 24 h. The toxicity study, however, indicates a 4.38-fold cell number decrease at 24 days. Although further optimization on nano-functionalization process are needed for cytotoxicity, these data indicated that Au-NRs nano-functionalization is a very promising method for improving the antibacterial properties of HA.     

In Vivo Biological Behavior of Polymer Scaffolds of Natural Origin in the Bone Repair Process

Autologous bone grafts, used mainly in extensive bone loss, are considered the gold standard treatment in regenerative medicine, but still have limitations mainly in relation to the amount of bone available, donor area, morbidity and creation of additional surgical area. This fact encourages tissue engineering in relation to the need to develop new biomaterials, from sources other than the individual himself. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of an elastin and collagen matrix on the bone repair process in critical size defects in rat calvaria. The animals (Wistar rats, n = 30) were submitted to a surgical procedure to create the bone defect and were divided into three groups: Control Group (CG, n = 10), defects filled with blood clot; E24/37 Group (E24/37, n = 10), defects filled with bovine elastin matrix hydrolyzed for 24 h at 37 °C and C24/25 Group (C24/25, n = 10), defects filled with porcine collagen matrix hydrolyzed for 24 h at 25 °C. Macroscopic and radiographic analyses demonstrated the absence of inflammatory signs and infection. Microtomographical 2D and 3D images showed centripetal bone growth and restricted margins of the bone defect. Histologically, the images confirmed the pattern of bone deposition at the margins of the remaining bone and without complete closure by bone tissue. In the morphometric analysis, the groups E24/37 and C24/25 (13.68 ± 1.44; 53.20 ± 4.47, respectively) showed statistically significant differences in relation to the CG (5.86 ± 2.87). It was concluded that the matrices used as scaffolds are biocompatible and increase the formation of new bone in a critical size defect, with greater formation in the polymer derived from the intestinal serous layer of porcine origin (C24/25).     

Synthesis and applications of graphene oxide aerogels in bone tissue regeneration: a review

Development of biocompatible porous supports is a promising strategy in the field of tissue engineering for the repair and regeneration of bone tissues with severe damage. Graphene oxide aerogels (GOAs) are excellent candidates for the manufacture of these systems due to their porosity, ability to imitate bone structure, and mechanical resistance, and according to their surface chemical reactivity, they can facilitate osseointegration, osteogenesis, osteoinduction and osteoconduction. In this review, synthesis of GOAs from the most primary source is described, and recent studies on the use of these functionalized carbonaceous foams as scaffolding for bone tissue regeneration are presented.