The Incorporation of Marine Coral Microparticles into Collagen-Based Scaffolds Promotes Osteogenesis of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells via Calcium Ion Signalling

Abstract

Composite biomaterial scaffolds consisting of natural polymers and bioceramics may offer an alternative to autologous grafts for applications such as bone repair. Herein, we sought to investigate the possibility of incorporating marine coral microparticles into a collagen-based scaffold, a process which we hypothesised would enhance the mechanical properties of the scaffold as well its capacity to promote osteogenesis of human mesenchymal stromal cells. Cryomilling and sieving were utilised to achieve coral microparticles of mean diameters 14 µm and 64 µm which were separately incorporated into collagen-based slurries and freeze-dried to form porous scaffolds. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy determined the coral microparticles to be comprised of calcium carbonate whereas collagen/coral composite scaffolds were shown to have a crystalline calcium ethanoate structure. Crosslinked collagen/coral scaffolds demonstrated enhanced compressive properties when compared to collagen only scaffolds and also promoted more robust osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells, as indicated by increased expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 at the gene level, and enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium accumulation at the protein level. Only subtle differences were observed when comparing the effect of coral microparticles of different sizes, with improved osteogenesis occurring as a result of calcium ion signalling delivered from collagen/coral composite scaffolds. These scaffolds, fabricated from entirely natural sources, therefore show promise as novel biomaterials for tissue engineering applications such as bone regeneration.

Aragonite-Based Scaffold for the Treatment of Joint Surface Lesions in Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritic Knees: Results of a 2-Year Multicenter Prospective Study

“…In fact, the unique feature of this novel scaffold is its ability to restore the subchondral bone, as documented by extensive in vitro studies, which showed not only its osteoinductive and osteoconductive capabilities but also unique osteotransductive properties, that is, the formation of bone through the direct deposition of bone trabeculae on the scaffold material. 1,15,20,34,43 The chondrogenic potential of the articular phase of the scaffold has been studied in another ex vivo trial, 5 and these findings were also confirmed in a goat model in which the scaffold was able to restore the entire osteochondral unit even in extremely large defects. 26-28…”

Translating Material Science into Bone Regenerative Medicine Applications: State-of-The Art Methods and Protocols

“…They can proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts upon appropriate stimuli. MSCs isolated from bone marrow are regarded as the gold standard [ 14 , 53 , 55 , 57 , 67 , 68 , 73 , 76 , 77 , 79 , 83 , 91 , 94 , 98 , 107 , 108 , 109 ]. MSC-like cells isolated from the stromal vascular fraction of the adipose tissue, namely, adipose-derived stem cells, ASC, are seldom used in selected applications [ 2 , 65 , 72 , 82 , 89 , 104 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 ].…”

“…The analysis of alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) activity is one of the most common tests used to evaluate the osteogenic process and numerous easy-to-use and highly sensitive assays to measure ALPL activity are available on the market [ 14 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 58 , 61 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 71 , 73 , 76 , 79 , 80 , 83 , 85 , 86 , 88 , 90 , 91 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 107 , 114 , 115 ].…”

Marine Natural Products: A Potential Source of Anti-hepatocellular Carcinoma Drugs

“…As lower marine invertebrates, corals represent some of the most common animals in the ocean and can generally be categorized as soft, hard, or gorgonian. Coral extracts possess broad health benefits, including anti-inflammatory 55 antitumor, 56 tissue repair, 57 neuroprotective, 58 and anti-hypertensive effects. 59 All the compounds summarized in this section are purified marine coral-derived products.…”