Halloysite Nanotube Based Scaffold for Enhanced Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Bone regeneration remains a clinical challenge with limited bone substitutes, urging for effective alternative strategies. Nanotubes, especially carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide nanotubes, have been widely utilized for bone regeneration; however, their further applications were limited by the composition and degradability. As naturally occurring aluminosilicate nanoclay, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), with good biocompatibility, functionality, and nanotubular structures, may be a promising platform for promoting bone regeneration. Herein, we presented a HNTs incorporated hydrogel and explored the potential bone tissue engineering applications of HNTs. The HNTs encapsulated hydrogel was simply fabricated by using the photopolymerization method with gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and HNTs. The incorporation of HNTs led to an enhanced mechanical performance while maintaining a good cytocompatibility in vitro. The osteogenic activities of the HNTs incorporated platform have also been studied in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, the addition of HNTs obviously upregulated the expression of osteogenic differentiation-related genes and concomitant protein of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and therefore facilitated subsequent bone regeneration in calvarial defects of rats. Overall, the results obtained in this study highlight the bone regeneration capacity of HNTs, which may enhance current understanding of HNTs, and present a promising alternative strategy for bone regeneration.

The effect of carbon nanotubes on osteogenic functions of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and bone formation in vivo compared with that of nano-hydroxyapatite and the possible mechanism

“…Even though it was a field in its infancy a decade ago, currently, numerous researchers fabricate cytocompatible biomimetic nanomaterial scaffolds encapsulating cells (such as stem cells, chondrocytes and osteoblasts, etc.) for tissue engineering applications [ 10 , 11 ]. As for bone repair materials, clinicians are still looking for a ready-to-use biomaterial, which can differentiate inducible cells to osteogenic cells that form new bone.…”

Architected poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone)/halloysite nanotube composite scaffolds enabled by 3D printing for biomedical applications

“…Incorporation of nanomaterials such as carbon nanostructures, metal oxide nanoparticles into polymer matrix is yet another approach to alter the surface wettability [15]. Halloysite nanotube (HNT) has gained attraction in the recent past as a biocompatible material as it has the potential to enhance the biocompatibility [16,17], as well as surface wettability of the polymer matrix [18][19][20]. HNT-a clay mineral belonging to kaolinite family-has a long tubule-like structure with a stoichiometry of Al 2 Si 2 O 5 (OH)4ÁnH 2 O.…”

Zinc Doped Halloysite Cooperating with Polylactic Acid for Bone Regeneration

“…In addition, HNTs have been proven to enhance mechanical properties for numerous materials, such as alginate 25 , chitosan 28,29 , epoxy 30 , nylon 24 , rubber 31 , and calcium phosphate 32 . Furthermore, HNTs have also been reported to chemotactically attract pre-osteoblasts 33 and enhance osteogenic differentiation 34,35 .…”