Cascade Regulation of the Proliferation, Recruitment, and Differentiation of Stem Cells to Prevent Aseptic Loosening by GNPs/ECPP Particles Responding to Macrophages: In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract

Modulating both inflammation and stem cells by designing an artificial joint material to obtain the continuous prevention and control on aseptic loosening (AL) is a novel strategy. In this paper, graphene/europium-doped calcium polyphosphate (GNPs/ECPP) particles were obtained by ultrasound method and spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The prepared particles were used to modulate the inflammatory response and further obtain cascade regulation on the proliferation, recruitment, and differentiation of stem cells. The results showed that particles obtained by SPS had a stronger effect on promoting the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells, while by ultrasound method more stem cells were recruited. Besides, the graphene and Eu3+ contained in the particles obtained by SPS method could effectively play a synergistic role on the differentiation of stem cells. In vivo experiment results demonstrated that the composite particles effectively suppress the inflammatory response, recruit stem cells, and prevent AL by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors.