Piezoelectric smart biomaterials for bone and cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract

Tissues like bone and cartilage are remodeled dynamically for their functional requirements by signaling pathways. The signals are controlled by the cells and extracellular matrix and transmitted through an electrical and chemical synapse. Scaffold-based tissue engineering therapies largely disturb the natural signaling pathways, due to their rigidity towards signal conduction, despite their therapeutic advantages. Thus, there is a high need of smart biomaterials, which can conveniently generate and transfer the bioelectric signals analogous to native tissues for appropriate physiological functions. Piezoelectric materials can generate electrical signals in response to the applied stress. Furthermore, they can stimulate the signaling pathways and thereby enhance the tissue regeneration at the impaired site. The piezoelectric scaffolds can act as sensitive mechanoelectrical transduction systems. Hence, it is applicable to the regions, where mechanical loads are predominant. The present review is mainly concentrated on the mechanism related to the electrical stimulation in a biological system and the different piezoelectric materials suitable for bone and cartilage tissue engineering.

Morphology Dependence Degradation of Electro- and Magnetoactive Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) for Tissue Engineering Applications

“…Together, all these properties make it a promising candidate material for biomedical applications, such as the fabrication of cardiac stents [30], wound dressing [31], drug release [32] and antitumor applications [33]. More specifically in tissue engineering, PHBV is usually employed for scaffolds in bone tissue regeneration [34,35], absorbable surgical sutures [36], among others.Additionally, owing to its piezoelectric properties (piezoelectric coefficient of 1.3 pC/N, similar to human bone [12,37]), this polymer can provide electrical stimulation through mechanical solicitation and with a suitable degradation rate for a variety of tissue engineering applications [38,39].In addition to tissue engineering applications, PHBV has a wide range of industrial applications such as food packaging [40], cosmetics, personal care products (towels and diapers), helmets and panels for several automotive materials [41][42][43]. More recently, this polymer was also used in the scope of environmental remediation towards nitrates and chlorine removal from contaminated water [44,45].A biodegradable magnetoelectric composite, combining piezoelectric PHBV with magnetostrictive cobalt ferrites, CoFe 2 O 4 (CFO) has been reported [8], confirming the ability of biodegradable PHBV and magnetoelectric compound (PHBV/CFO) to be processed into different morphologies, including microspheres, films, fibers and 3D porous scaffolds, adequate for tissue engineering applications with different structural microenvironments.As the biodegradation process occurs, it is important to keep the properties that assure the effectiveness of the scaffold after its implantation.…”

“…Additionally, owing to its piezoelectric properties (piezoelectric coefficient of 1.3 pC/N, similar to human bone [12,37]), this polymer can provide electrical stimulation through mechanical solicitation and with a suitable degradation rate for a variety of tissue engineering applications [38,39].…”

Piezoelectric Scaffolds as Smart Materials for Neural Tissue Engineering

“…Ciofani et al [145] demonstrated that PLGA matrix with the addition of BT nanoparticles supports the cell proliferation and attachment of osteocytes and osteoblasts. Additionally, the incorporation of barium titanate nanoparticles into the polymeric matrix improves the mechanical properties of the composite scaffold [146] and promotes cellular activity in tissue engineering applications [147].…”

Domain Heterogeneity in Radiofrequency Therapies for Pain Relief: A Computational Study with Coupled Models

“…For example, for cortical bones, piezoelectric properties are often responsible for the coupling between macroscopic and micro/nanoscopic scales, which may provide additional insight into certain dysfunctions and diseases [66]. Such properties also provide a foundation for wider usage of these biomaterials in tissue engineering [67]. In describing piezoelectricity, we couple electrical and mechanical fields.…”