Nanofiber/Microsphere Hybrid Matrices In Vivo for Bone Regenerative Engineering: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

The demand for bone grafts has led to advances in regenerative engineering, a field at the intersection of advanced biomaterials, stem cell science, physics, developmental biology, and clinical translation. In this work, the authors evaluated a hybrid nanofiber/microsphere matrices both in vitro and in vivo for its ability to promote bone regeneration. Quantitative measures of cellular characteristics in vitro showed a higher fraction of marrow stromal cells with collagen promoter activity on hybrid matrices compared to control matrices (41% vs. 24%, p = 0.02). Control and hybrid matrices were then implanted for 6 weeks in calvarial defects of mice, and the animals received a single injection of calcein 1 day prior to sacrifice to visualize bone formation. Cryohistology of the undecalfied implants were evaluated for markers of bone mineralization, which revealed evidence of higher levels of bone tissue formation in hybrid matrices compared to controls. These data provide support that nanofiber-permeated, sintered, composite microsphere matrices may be a particularly useful matrix for the regenerative engineering of bone.

Control of mesenchymal cell fate via application of FGF-8b in vitro

“…To develop strategies to regenerate complex tissues in mammals, and a limb one day, regenerative engineering approaches will be needed ( Laurencin and Khan, 2012 ; Laurencin and Nair, 2016 ). Regenerative engineering is a convergence field whereby advanced material science, physical science, stem cell science, developmental biology and translational medicine with the goal of creating tools that regenerate or reconstruct functional tissues and organs ( Ameer, 2020 ; Beachy et al, 2020 ; Bowers and Brown, 2019 ; Clegg et al, 2019 ; Heath, 2019 ; Ifegwu et al, 2018 ; James et al, 2016 ; Mengsteab et al, 2020 ; Moore and West, 2019 ; Nelson et al, 2018 ; Ogueri et al, 2019 ; Tang et al, 2019 , 2020 ). As a part of this approach, developmental and regeneration biology will provide clues that can direct new engineering strategies for coordinated regeneration of tissues with limited regeneration capacity.…”

Marine spongin incorporation into Biosilicate® for tissue engineering applications: An in vivo study

“…20–22 Marine sponge Col or spongin (SPG) (which is similar to Type XIII Col), is an excellent alternative for Col extraction, with a low risk of transmission of infection-causing agents and good biocompatibility. 19,20 Also, it has been demonstrated that SPG is able of accelerating osteoblast cell proliferation in in vitro studies, showing an osteogenic potential. 23–25…”

“…18 It is biocompatible, has a high affinity to water, controllable biodegradation, hemostatic properties, low inflammatory host response, being a very useful material to be used in biomedical applications. 14,19 The most common sources of Col are from bovine and porcine origin; however, they have been a matter of concern mainly due to religious constraints related with avoidance of porcine and bovine products, to the recent episodes of the wide scale bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak in bovines and also to the high manufacturing and production costs. 14,19 For these reasons, different sources of Col to be used in the tissue engineering field have been explored such as the ones from marine sponges.…”

“…14,19 The most common sources of Col are from bovine and porcine origin; however, they have been a matter of concern mainly due to religious constraints related with avoidance of porcine and bovine products, to the recent episodes of the wide scale bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak in bovines and also to the high manufacturing and production costs. 14,19 For these reasons, different sources of Col to be used in the tissue engineering field have been explored such as the ones from marine sponges. [20][21][22] Marine sponge Col or spongin (SPG) (which is similar to Type XIII Col), is an excellent alternative for Col extraction, with a low risk of transmission of infection-causing agents and good biocompatibility.…”

“…18 It is biocompatible, has a high affinity to water, controllable biodegradation, hemostatic properties, low inflammatory host response, being a very useful material to be used in biomedical applications. 14,19…”