The role of osteoclasts in bone tissue engineering

Abstract

The success of scaffold-based bone regeneration approaches strongly depends on the performance of the biomaterial utilized. Within the efforts of regenerative medicine towards a restitutio ad integrum (i.e. complete reconstruction of a diseased tissue), scaffolds should be completely degraded within an adequate period of time. The degradation of synthetic bone substitute materials involves both chemical dissolution (physicochemical degradation) and resorption (cellular degradation by osteoclasts). Responsible for bone resorption are osteoclasts, cells of haematopoietic origin. Osteoclasts play also a crucial role in bone remodelling, which is essential for the regeneration of bone defects. There is, however, surprisingly limited knowledge about the detailed effects of osteoclasts on biomaterials degradation behaviour. This review covers the relevant fundamental knowledge and progress made in the field of osteoclast activity related to biomaterials used for bone regeneration. In vitro studies with osteoclastic precursor cells on synthetic bone substitute materials show that there are specific parameters that inhibit or enhance resorption. Moreover, analyses of the bone-material interface reveal that biomaterials composition has a significant influence on their degradation in contact with osteoclasts. Crystallinity, grain size, surface bioactivity and density of the surface seem to have a less significant effect on osteoclastic activity. In addition, the topography of the scaffold surface can be tailored to affect the development and spreading of osteoclast cells. The present review also highlights possible areas on which future research is needed and which are relevant to enhance our understanding of the complex role of osteoclasts in bone tissue engineering.

Influence of dissolution products of a novel Ca-enriched silicate bioactive glass-ceramic on VEGF release from bone marrow stromal cells

“…Bone regeneration is a complex process that involves the coordination of a variety of different cascades and can be typically characterised by four overlapping stages. Initial inflammatory response is followed by bone formation, vascularisation and bone remodelling [5][6][7]. One of the core limitations for bone healing of large defects is the inadequate vascularization of applied grafts.…”

Nanoscale Bioactive Glass Activates Osteoclastic Differentiation of RAW 264.7 Cells

“…In light of the fact that bone has a healing capacity through bone remodeling in response to injury or tumor destruction, the limiting factor for regeneration is linked not only with the individual's age but also with the amount of bone loss or damage. Despite the possibility of using auto-, allo-or xenografts for bone replacement there are clinical risks including graft availability, infection, reduced mechanical movement, a poorly functioning graft or graft rejection [2]. Bone tissue engineering represents an alternative to current approaches with ultimate goal being the combination of progenitor cells with growth factors and biomaterial substrates to form a three-dimensional (3D) structure that supports new bone formation [3][4][5].…”

“…Bone tissue engineering represents an alternative to current approaches with ultimate goal being the combination of progenitor cells with growth factors and biomaterial substrates to form a three-dimensional (3D) structure that supports new bone formation [3][4][5]. An assortment of materials such as calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite (HAp), bioactive glasses (BG) like 45S5 BG, tricalcium phosphate (TCP), biphasic ceramics of HAp and α-or β-TCP, biopolymers and numerous biodegradable polymer-ceramic composites are of great interest for the development of bone substitutes in bone repairing and reconstruction [2,6,7]. Nevertheless, bone regeneration is a complex process that involves the coordination of a variety of different cascades and can be typically characterized by initial inflammatory response, followed by bone formation, vascularization and bone remodeling [8].…”

“…From the beginning, osteoclasts are fundamentally engaged in the whole interactive process, but, interestingly, there is a lack of research of osteoclast interaction with bone substitutes. Important parameters determining osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity with biomaterial bone substrates are material composition, roughness, crystal grain size and surface energy and wettability, as reviewed elsewhere [2].…”

SEM-EDX Study of the Degradation Process of Two Xenograft Materials Used in Sinus Lift Procedures

“…It is noteworthy that TRAP-positive osteoclastic cells have been seen on the surface of deproteinized.collagen This implies that collagen fibrils are resorbed not only enzymatically, but also phagocytically. This was the case of the non sintered DPHa [76]. Our study showed that most of the newly formed bone in the augmented sinus The grafting material is an important determinant of bone augmentation procedures being a success or a failure.…”