Bone is a richly vascularized connective tissue. As the main source of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors delivered to the bone cells, vasculature is indispensable for appropriate bone development, regeneration and remodeling. Bone vasculature also orchestrates the process of hematopoiesis. Blood supply to the skeletal system is provided by the networks of arteries and arterioles, having distinct molecular characteristics and localizations within the bone structures. Blood vessels of the bone develop through the process of angiogenesis, taking place through different, bone-specific mechanisms. Impaired functioning of the bone blood vessels may be associated with the occurrence of some skeletal and systemic diseases, i.e., osteonecrosis, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis or diabetes mellitus. When a disease or trauma-related large bone defects appear, bone grafting or bone tissue engineering-based strategies are required. However, a successful bone regeneration in both approaches largely depends on a proper blood supply. In this paper, we review the most recent data on the functions, molecular characteristics and significance of the bone blood vessels, with a particular emphasis on the role of angiogenesis and blood vessel functioning in bone development and regeneration, as well as the consequences of its impairment in the course of different skeletal and systemic diseases.

We have developed poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) based composites using sol–gel derived bioactive glasses (S-BG), previously described by our group, as composite components. Two different composite types were manufactured that contained either S2—high content silica S-BG, or A2—high content lime S-BG. The composites were evaluated in the form of sheets and 3D scaffolds. Sheets containing 12, 21, and 33 vol.% of each bioactive glass were characterized for mechanical properties, wettability, hydrolytic degradation, and surface bioactivity. Sheets containing A2 S-BG rapidly formed a hydroxyapatite surface layer after incubation in simulated body fluid. The incorporation of either S-BG increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the composites and tailored their degradation rates compared to starting compounds. Sheets and 3D scaffolds were evaluated for their ability to support growth of human bone marrow cells (BMC) and MG-63 cells, respectively. Cells were grown in non-differentiating, osteogenic or osteoclast-inducing conditions. Osteogenesis was induced with either recombinant human BMP-2 or dexamethasone, and osteoclast formation with M-CSF. BMC viability was lower at higher S-BG content, though specific ALP/cell was significantly higher on PLGA/A2-33 composites. Composites containing S2 S-BG enhanced calcification of extracellular matrix by BMC, whereas incorporation of A2 S-BG in the composites promoted osteoclast formation from BMC. MG-63 osteoblast-like cells seeded in porous scaffolds containing S2 maintained viability and secreted collagen and calcium throughout the scaffolds. Overall, the presented data show functional versatility of the composites studied and indicate their potential to design a wide variety of implant materials differing in physico-chemical properties and biological applications. We propose these sol–gel derived bioactive glass–PLGA composites may prove excellent potential orthopedic and dental biomaterials supporting bone formation and remodeling.

In this study, 3D porous bioactive composite scaffolds were produced and evaluated for their physico-chemical and biological properties. Polymer poly-L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) matrix scaffolds were modified with sol-gel-derived bioactive glasses (SBGs) of CaO-SiO2-P2O5 systems. We hypothesized that SBG incorporation into PLGA matrix would improve the chemical and biological activity of composite materials as well as their mechanical properties. We applied two bioactive glasses, designated as S2 or A2, differing in the content of SiO2 and CaO (i.e. 80 mol% SiO2, 16 mol% CaO for S2 and 40 mol% SiO2, 52 mol% CaO for A2). The composites were characterized for their porosity, bioactivity, microstructure and mechanical properties. The osteoinductive properties of these composites were evaluated in human bone marrow stromal cell (hBMSC) cultures grown in either standard growth medium or treated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) or dexamethasone (Dex). After incubation in simulated body fluid, calcium phosphate precipitates formed inside the pores of both A2-PLGA and S2-PLGA scaffolds. The compressive strength of the latter was increased slightly compared to PLGA. Both composites promoted superior hBMSC attachment to the material surface and stimulated the expression of several osteogenic markers in hBMSC compared to cells grown on unmodified PLGA. There were also marked differences in the response of hBMSC to composite scaffolds, depending on chemical compositions of the scaffolds and culture treatments. Compared to silica-rich S2-PLGA, hBMSC grown on calcium-rich A2-PLGA were overall less responsive to rhBMP-2 or Dex and the osteoinductive properties of these A2-PLGA scaffolds seemed partially dependent on their ability to induce BMP signaling in untreated hBMSC. Thus, beyond the ability of currently studied composites to enhance hBMSC osteogenesis, it may become possible to modulate the osteogenic response of hBMSC, depending on the chemistry of SBGs incorporated into polymer matrix.

Despite the excellent biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite and bioglass, their clinical applications are limited to non-load-bearing implants and implant coatings due to their low mechanical properties. We have developed two different composites made of hydroxyapatite (HA) and gel-derived bioglasses designated S2 (80 mol% SiO(2)-16 mol% CaO-4 mol% P(2)O(5)) or A2 (40 mol% SiO(2)-54 mol% CaO-6 mol% P(2)O(5)). We show that the combination of hydroxyapatite with either bioglass results in better composite bioactivity and biocompatibility compared to HA alone. We used a commercially available hydroxyapatite that was sintered with varying additions (10%, 50%) of A2 or S2 bioglass. Scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction were used to characterize the microstructure and phases of the composites. The elastic properties of bioglass/HA composites were analyzed with the use of the pulse ultrasonic technique. The bioactivity (surface activity) of the composites was assessed by determining the changes of surface morphology and composition after soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 and 14 days. The biocompatibility of the obtained composites was then assessed in vitro using adult human bone marrow stromal cells. Cells were seeded on the material surfaces at a density of 10(4) cells cm(-2) and cultured for 7 days in non-differentiating and osteogenic conditions. The number of live cells was estimated in both standard and osteogenic cultures, followed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay in osteogenic cultures. We determined that 10 wt% addition of A2 (E = 12.24 GPa) and 50 wt% addition of S2 (E = 16.96 GPa) to the HA base results in higher Young's modulus of the composites compared to pure hydroxyapatite (E = 9.03 GPa). The rate of Ca-P rich layer formation is higher for bioglass/HA composites containing A2 bioglass compared to the composites containing S2 bioglass. Evaluation of cell growth on the bioglass/HA composites showed that the incorporation of either 50 wt% S2 or 50 wt% A2 into the hydroxyapatite base significantly improves cell viability when compared to cells grown on pure HA. Also the cellular activity of ALP, an early marker of osteoblasts, increases with the amount of bioglass addition to the composites.

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