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J. Funct. Biomater., Volume 8, Issue 4 (December 2017) – 10 articles

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1805 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Adsorption and Desorption Mechanisms of Chromate Ions on Cross-Linked Chitosan
by Kenji Mishima, Xiaoyu Du, Shunsuke Sekiguchi and Naoki Kano
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040051 - 14 Dec 2017
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6388
Abstract
In this work, chitosan bead materials were modified by cross-linking with epichlorohydrin (EP) and glutaraldehyde (GA) for the removal of heavy metals in wastewater. Using these cross-linked chitosan materials, the dependence of adsorption of chromate anions on pH was investigated experimentally and theoretically. [...] Read more.
In this work, chitosan bead materials were modified by cross-linking with epichlorohydrin (EP) and glutaraldehyde (GA) for the removal of heavy metals in wastewater. Using these cross-linked chitosan materials, the dependence of adsorption of chromate anions on pH was investigated experimentally and theoretically. The experimental results show that the adsorption process of the chromate (Cr) ions greatly depends on the pH of the solution, with the chitosan modified by cross-linking being an efficient adsorbent for chromate. On the other hand, quantum chemistry calculations were conducted to find out the factor determining the pH dependence of the adsorption efficiency of chromate ions on the dimer chitosan molecule, and show results similar to those found in the experiment. Both the experimental and numerical results show that the total charge numbers of the adsorbent and the adsorbate species and their relative molecular geometries are crucial in determining the adsorption efficiency. Full article
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2677 KiB  
Article
Dicationic Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid Coatings on Zirconia Surfaces: Physico-Chemical and Biological Characterization
by Pavan P. K. Sandhu, Izabelle M. Gindri, Danyal A. Siddiqui and Danieli C. Rodrigues
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040050 - 13 Dec 2017
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5899
Abstract
In the present work, dicationic imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated as multi-functional coatings on a zirconia (ZrO2) surface to prevent biofilm formation and enhance the wear performance of zirconia while maintaining the material’s compatibility with host cells. ILs containing phenylalanine [...] Read more.
In the present work, dicationic imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated as multi-functional coatings on a zirconia (ZrO2) surface to prevent biofilm formation and enhance the wear performance of zirconia while maintaining the material’s compatibility with host cells. ILs containing phenylalanine and methionine were synthesized and deposited on zirconia. Intermolecular interactions driving IL deposition on zirconia were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Anti-biofilm activity and cell compatibility were evaluated in vitro after one and seven days, and wear performance was tested using a pin-on-disk apparatus. ILs were observed to form strong hydrogen bonds with zirconia. IL containing phenylalanine formed a stable film on the surface after one and seven days in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and artificial saliva and showed excellent anti-biofilm properties against Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus sanguinis. Compatibility with gingival fibroblasts and pre-osteoblasts was maintained, and conditions for growth and differentiation were preserved. A significantly lower coefficient of friction and wear volume loss were observed for IL-coated surfaces as compared to non-coated substrates. Overall, zirconia is an emerging alternative to titanium in dental implants systems, and this study provides additional evidence of the materials’ behavior and IL coatings as a potential surface treatment technology for improvement of its properties. Full article
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1489 KiB  
Review
Reconstruction of Craniomaxillofacial Bone Defects Using Tissue-Engineering Strategies with Injectable and Non-Injectable Scaffolds
by Bipin Gaihre, Suren Uswatta and Ambalangodage C. Jayasuriya
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040049 - 20 Nov 2017
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 9704
Abstract
Engineering craniofacial bone tissues is challenging due to their complex structures. Current standard autografts and allografts have many drawbacks for craniofacial bone tissue reconstruction; including donor site morbidity and the ability to reinstate the aesthetic characteristics of the host tissue. To overcome these [...] Read more.
Engineering craniofacial bone tissues is challenging due to their complex structures. Current standard autografts and allografts have many drawbacks for craniofacial bone tissue reconstruction; including donor site morbidity and the ability to reinstate the aesthetic characteristics of the host tissue. To overcome these problems; tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies have been developed as a potential way to reconstruct damaged bone tissue. Different types of new biomaterials; including natural polymers; synthetic polymers and bioceramics; have emerged to treat these damaged craniofacial bone tissues in the form of injectable and non-injectable scaffolds; which are examined in this review. Injectable scaffolds can be considered a better approach to craniofacial tissue engineering as they can be inserted with minimally invasive surgery; thus protecting the aesthetic characteristics. In this review; we also focus on recent research innovations with different types of stem-cell sources harvested from oral tissue and growth factors used to develop craniofacial bone tissue-engineering strategies. Full article
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9524 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of PBS Treatment and PEI Coating Effects on Surface Morphology and Cellular Response of 3D-Printed Alginate Scaffolds
by María A. Mendoza García, Mohammad Izadifar and Xiongbiao Chen
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040048 - 01 Nov 2017
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8024
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology for the fabrication of scaffolds to repair/replace damaged tissue/organs in tissue engineering. This paper presents our study on 3D printed alginate scaffolds treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) coating and their impacts on [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology for the fabrication of scaffolds to repair/replace damaged tissue/organs in tissue engineering. This paper presents our study on 3D printed alginate scaffolds treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) coating and their impacts on the surface morphology and cellular response of the printed scaffolds. In our study, sterile alginate was prepared by means of the freeze-drying method and then, used to prepare the hydrogel for 3D printing into calcium chloride, forming 3D scaffolds. Scaffolds were treated with PBS for a time period of two days and seven days, respectively, and PEI coating; then they were seeded with Schwann cells (RSC96) for the examination of cellular response (proliferation and differentiation). In addition, swelling and stiffness (Young’s modulus) of the treated scaffolds was evaluated, while their surface morphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images revealed significant changes in scaffold surface morphology due to degradation caused by the PBS treatment over time. Our cell proliferation assessment over seven days showed that a two-day PBS treatment could be more effective than seven-day PBS treatment for improving cell attachment and elongation. While PEI coating of alginate scaffolds seemed to contribute to cell growth, Schwann cells stayed round on the surface of alginate over the period of cell culture. In conclusion, PBS-treatment may offer the potential to induce surface physical cues due to degradation of alginate, which could improve cell attachment post cell-seeding of 3D-printed alginate scaffolds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Journal of Functional Biomaterials: Feature Papers 2016)
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2253 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Bicomponent Electrospun Fibers for Therapeutic Use: Post-Treatments to Improve Chemical and Biological Stability
by Antonio Papa, Vincenzo Guarino, Valentina Cirillo, Olimpia Oliviero and Luigi Ambrosio
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040047 - 16 Oct 2017
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6070
Abstract
Bicomponent electrospun nanofibers based on the combination of synthetic (i.e., aliphatic polyesters such as polycaprolactone (PCL)) and natural proteins (i.e., gelatin) have been extensively investigated as temporary platforms to instruct cells by the release of molecular/pharmaceutical signals for the regeneration of several tissues. [...] Read more.
Bicomponent electrospun nanofibers based on the combination of synthetic (i.e., aliphatic polyesters such as polycaprolactone (PCL)) and natural proteins (i.e., gelatin) have been extensively investigated as temporary platforms to instruct cells by the release of molecular/pharmaceutical signals for the regeneration of several tissues. Here, water soluble proteins (i.e., gelatin), strictly embedded to PCL, act as carriers of bioactive molecules, thus improving bioavailability and supporting cell activities during in vitro regeneration. However, these proteins are rapidly digested by enzymes, locally produced by many different cell types, both in vitro and in vivo, with significant drawbacks in the control of molecular release. Hence, we have investigated three post-processing strategies based on the use of different crosslinking agents—(1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride) (EDC), glyceraldehyde (GC), and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE)—to delay the dissolution time of gelatin macromolecules from bicomponent fibers. All of the qualitative (i.e., SEM, TGA) and quantitative (i.e., Trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS) and bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assays) morphological/chemical analyses as well as biocompatibility assays indicate that EDC crosslinking improves the chemical stability of bicomponent fibers at 37 °C and provides a more efficient encapsulation and controlled sustained release of drug, thus resulting in the best post-treatment to design bio-inspired fibrous platforms for the extended in vitro release of drugs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Journal of Functional Biomaterials: Feature Papers 2016)
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1957 KiB  
Article
Fe Core–Carbon Shell Nanoparticles as Advanced MRI Contrast Enhancer
by Rakesh P. Chaudhary, Kim Kangasniemi, Masaya Takahashi, Samarendra K. Mohanty and Ali R. Koymen
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040046 - 09 Oct 2017
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6346
Abstract
The aim of this study is to fabricate a hybrid composite of iron (Fe) core–carbon (C) shell nanoparticles with enhanced magnetic properties for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These new classes of magnetic core–shell nanoparticles are synthesized using a one-step top–down [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to fabricate a hybrid composite of iron (Fe) core–carbon (C) shell nanoparticles with enhanced magnetic properties for contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These new classes of magnetic core–shell nanoparticles are synthesized using a one-step top–down approach through the electric plasma discharge generated in the cavitation field in organic solvents by an ultrasonic horn. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed the core–shell nanoparticles with 10–85 nm in diameter with excellent dispersibility in water without any agglomeration. TEM showed the structural confirmation of Fe nanoparticles with body centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure. Magnetic multi-functional hybrid composites of Fe core–C shell nanoparticles were then evaluated as negative MRI contrast agents, displaying remarkably high transverse relaxivity (r2) of 70 mM−1·S−1 at 7 T. This simple one-step synthesis procedure is highly versatile and produces desired nanoparticles with high efficacy as MRI contrast agents and potential utility in other biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magnetic Nanoparticle Design for Medical Diagnosis and Therapy)
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5852 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Findings of Titanium Functionalized with Estradiol via Polydopamine Adlayer
by Chris Steffi, Zhilong Shi, Chee Hoe Kong and Wilson Wang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040045 - 28 Sep 2017
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5951
Abstract
To improve orthopedic implant fixation and reduce post-operative complications, osteogenic molecules are delivered locally by immobilizing them on the surface of implants, which will modulate the biology of cell attachment and differentiation on the implant surface. Estradiol, a natural steroid hormone, maintains bone [...] Read more.
To improve orthopedic implant fixation and reduce post-operative complications, osteogenic molecules are delivered locally by immobilizing them on the surface of implants, which will modulate the biology of cell attachment and differentiation on the implant surface. Estradiol, a natural steroid hormone, maintains bone metabolism by decreasing bone resorption. It either directly or indirectly affects osteoclasts. In this work, estradiol was immobilized on a titanium surface by polydopamine adlayer. Immobilization of estradiol was confirmed by X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS), immunofluorescence staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Estradiol-modified substrates enhanced alkaline phosphatases activity (ALP) and calcium deposition of osteoblasts. However, these substrates did not decrease tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and actin ring formation of the osteoclast. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of estradiol-modified substrates showed the formation of estradiol crystals, which decreased the potency of immobilized estradiol. Despite having a successful immobilization of estradiol via the polydopamine technique, the bioavailability and potency of coated estradiol is reduced due to crystallization, suggesting that this is not a suitable system for localized estradiol delivery as tested in vitro here. Consequently, other suitable platforms have to be explored for immobilizing estradiol that will prevent crystal formation while preserving the biological activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Implants and Devices)
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259 KiB  
Review
Biodegradable Materials and Metallic Implants—A Review
by Mythili Prakasam, Janis Locs, Kristine Salma-Ancane, Dagnija Loca, Alain Largeteau and Liga Berzina-Cimdina
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040044 - 26 Sep 2017
Cited by 298 | Viewed by 14906
Abstract
Recent progress made in biomaterials and their clinical applications is well known. In the last five decades, great advances have been made in the field of biomaterials, including ceramics, glasses, polymers, composites, glass-ceramics and metal alloys. A variety of bioimplants are currently used [...] Read more.
Recent progress made in biomaterials and their clinical applications is well known. In the last five decades, great advances have been made in the field of biomaterials, including ceramics, glasses, polymers, composites, glass-ceramics and metal alloys. A variety of bioimplants are currently used in either one of the aforesaid forms. Some of these materials are designed to degrade or to be resorbed inside the body rather than removing the implant after its function is served. Many properties such as mechanical properties, non-toxicity, surface modification, degradation rate, biocompatibility, and corrosion rate and scaffold design are taken into consideration. The current review focuses on state-of-the-art biodegradable bioceramics, polymers, metal alloys and a few implants that employ bioresorbable/biodegradable materials. The essential functions, properties and their critical factors are discussed in detail, in addition to their challenges to be overcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Journal of Functional Biomaterials: Feature Papers 2016)
1924 KiB  
Article
Suitability of EGCG as a Means of Stabilizing a Porcine Osteochondral Xenograft
by Steven Elder, John Clune, Jaylyn Walker and Paul Gloth
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040043 - 23 Sep 2017
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6706
Abstract
As a non-crosslinked osteochondral xenograft would be mechanically inferior to native cartilage and vulnerable to premature degradation, we seek a safe and effective method of xenograft stabilization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity for epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to stabilize [...] Read more.
As a non-crosslinked osteochondral xenograft would be mechanically inferior to native cartilage and vulnerable to premature degradation, we seek a safe and effective method of xenograft stabilization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity for epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to stabilize a decellularized porcine osteochondral xenograft through collagen crosslinking. Our objectives were to assess the effects of EGCG on the degree of crosslinking, mechanical properties, collagenase resistance, cytotoxicity, and in vitro biocompatibility. EGCG is a green tea polyphenol that acts as a collagen crosslinker. Porcine osteochondral plugs were decellularized and then crosslinked by soaking in EGCG. The degree of crosslinking, cartilage compressive stiffness, cartilage-bone interface strength, coefficient of friction, and residual mass after collagenase exposure all increased with an increasing EGCG concentration. With the exception of the coefficient of friction, EGCG treatment could restore mechanical properties to levels equal to, or exceeding those, of native cartilage. EGCG treatment profoundly increased the enzymatic resistance, and 1% EGCG provided protection equivalent to 1% glutaraldehyde. EGCG up to 0.5 mM was essentially not cytotoxic to chondrocytes embedded in alginate, and autologous chondrocytes attached to decellularized, EGCG-fixed cartilage were all viable five days after seeding. Results demonstrate that EGCG has many beneficial effects on a decellularized osteochondral xenograft, and may be suitable for use in stabilizing such a graft prior to implantation for the repair of a defect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Implants and Devices)
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1170 KiB  
Review
The Effect of RANKL/OPG Balance on Reducing Implant Complications
by Elizabeth R. Kapasa, Peter V. Giannoudis, Xiaodong Jia, Paul V. Hatton and Xuebin B. Yang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040042 - 22 Sep 2017
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 10857
Abstract
Despite the phenomenal success of implants particularly in the realms of dentistry and orthopaedics, there are still challenges to overcome. The failure of implants resulting from infection, prosthetic loosening, and non-union continue to be the most notorious examples. The cascade of fracture healing [...] Read more.
Despite the phenomenal success of implants particularly in the realms of dentistry and orthopaedics, there are still challenges to overcome. The failure of implants resulting from infection, prosthetic loosening, and non-union continue to be the most notorious examples. The cascade of fracture healing and bone repair, especially with the presence of an implant, is complex because it involves a multifaceted immune response alongside the intricate process of bone formation and remodelling. Bone loss is a serious clinical problem that is frequently accompanied by chronic inflammation, illustrating that there is a convoluted relationship between inflammation and bone erosion. The effects of pro-inflammatory factors play a significant role in initiating and maintaining osteoclastogenesis that results in bone resorption by osteoclasts. This is because there is a disruption of the relative ratio between Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κB-Ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), which is central to modulating bone repair and remodelling. This review aims to provide a background to the bone remodelling process, the bone repair cascade post-implantation, and the associated complications. Furthermore, current clinical solutions that can influence bone formation via either internal or extrinsic mechanisms will be described. These efficacious treatments for osteolysis via targeting the RANKL/OPG ratio may be crucial to reducing the incidence of related implant failures in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Implants and Devices)
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