ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of several three-dimensional (3-D) printing scaffold materials in bone tissue engineering. MethodThe recent domestic and international articles about 3-D printing scaffold materials were reviewed and summarized. ResultsCompared with conventional manufacturing methods, 3-D printing has distinctive advantages, such as enhancing the controllability of the structure and increasing the productivity. In addition to the traditional metal and ceramic scaffolds, 3-D printing scaffolds carrying seeding cells and tissue factors as well as scaffolds filling particular drugs for special need have been paid more and more attention. ConclusionsThe development of 3-D printing porous scaffolds have revealed new perspectives in bone repairing. But it is still at the initial stage, more basic and clinical researches are still needed.
ObjectiveTo review the properties of bio-derived hydrogels and their application and research progress in tissue engineering. MethodsThe literature concerning the biol-derived hydrogels was extensively reviewed and analyzed. ResultsBio-derived hydrogels can be divided into single-component hydrogels (collagen,hyaluronic acid,chitosan,alginate,silk fibroin,etc.) and multi-component hydrogels[Matrigel,the extract of extracellular matrix (ECM),and decellularized ECM].They have favorable biocompatibility and bioactivity because they are mostly extracted from the ECM of biological tissue.Among them,hydrogels derived from decellularized ECM,whose composition and structure are more in line with the requirements of bionics,have incomparable advantages and prospects.This kind of scaffold is the closest to the natural environment of the cell growth. ConclusionBio-derived hydrogels have been widely used in tissue engineering research.Although there still exist many problems,such as the poor mechanical properties,rapid degradation,the immunogenicity or safety,vascularization,sterilization methods,and so on,with the deep-going study of optimization mechanism,desirable bio-derived hydrogels could be obtained,and thus be applied to clinical application.
OBJECTIVE: To sum up the clinical results of bio-derived bone transplantation in orthopedics with tissue engineering technique. METHODS: From January 2000 to May 2002, 52 cases with various types of bone defect were treated with tissue engineered bone, which was constructed in vitro by allogeneous osteoblasts from periosteum (1 x 10(6)/ml) with bio-derived bone scaffold following 3 to 7 days co-culture. Among them, there were 7 cases of bone cyst, 22 cases of non-union or malunion of old fracture, 15 cases of fresh comminuted fracture of bone defect, 4 cases of spinal fracture and posterior route spinal fusion, 3 cases of bone implant of alveolar bone, 1 case of fusion of tarsotarsal joint. The total weight of tissue engineered bone was 349 g in all the cases, averaged 6.7 g in each case. RESULTS: All the cases were followed up after operation, averaged in 18.5 months. The wound in all the case healed by first intention, but 1 case with second intention. Bone union was completed within 3 to 4.5 months in 50 cases, but 2 cases of delayed union. Six cases were performed analysis of CD3, CD4, CD8, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 before and after operation, and no obvious abnormities were observed. CONCLUSION: Bio-derived tissue engineered bone has good osteogenesis. No obvious rejection and other complications are observed in the clinical application.
ObjectiveTo study the preparation method of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) for cartilage tissue engineering and analyze its biocompatibility. MethodsThe dermal tissues of the calf back were harvested, and decelluarized with 0.5% SDS, and the ADM was reconstructed with 0.5% trypsin, cross-linked with formaldehyde, and modified with 0.5% chondroitin sulfate which can promote the proliferation of chondrocytes. And the porosity, cytotoxicity, and biocompatibility were determined. Co-cultured 2nd passage chondrocytes and bone marrow stromal cells in a proportion of 3 to 7 were used as seed cells. The cells were seeded on ADM (experimental group) for 48 hours to observe the cell adhesion. The expressions of mRNA and protein of collagen type Ⅱ were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot methods, respectively. And the expressions were compared between the cells seeded on the scaffold and cultured in monolayer (control group). ResultsAfter modification of 0.5% trypsin, the surface of ADM was smooth and had uniform pores; the porosity (85.4%±2.8%) was significantly higher than that without modification (72.8%±5.8%) (t=-4.384, P=0.005). The cell toxicity was grade 1, which accords to the requirements for cartilage tissue engineering scaffolds. With time passing, the number of inflammatory cells decreased after implanted in the back of the rats (P<0.05). The scanning electron microscope observation showed that lots of seed cells adhered to the scaffold, the cells were well stacked, displaying surface microvilli and secretion. The expressions of mRNA and protein of collagen type Ⅱ were not significantly different between experimental and control groups (t=1.265, P=0.235;t=0.935, P=0.372). ConclusionThe ADM prepared by acellular treatment, reconstruction, cross-linking, and modification shows perfect characters. And the seed cells maintain chondrogenic phenotype on the scaffold. So it is a proper choice for cartilage tissue engineering.
ObjectiveTo analyze the progress in biological tissue engineering scaffold materials and the clinical application, as well as product development status. MethodsBased on extensive investigation in the status of research and application of biological tissue engineering scaffold materials, a comprehensive analysis was made. Meanwhile, a detailed analysis of research and product development was presented. ResultsConsiderable progress has been achieved in research, products transformation, clinical application, and supervision of biological scaffold for tissue engineering. New directions, new technology, and new products are constantly emerging. With the continuous progress of science and technology and continuous improvement of life sciences theory, the new direction and new focus still need to be continuously adjusted in order to meet the clinical needs. ConclusionFrom the aspect of industrial transformation feasibility, acellular scaffolds and extracellular matrix are the most promising new growth of both research and product development in this field.
ObjectiveTo review the methods of improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels and the research progress in bone tissue engineering. MethodsThe recent domestic and foreign literature on hydrogels in bone tissue engineering was reviewed, and the methods of improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels and the effect of bone repair in vivo and in vitro were summarized. ResultsHydrogels are widely used in bone tissue engineering, but their mechanical properties are poor. Improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels can enhance bone repair. The methods of improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels include the construction of dual network structures, inorganic nanoparticle composites, introduction of conductive materials, and fiber network reinforcement. These methods can improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels to various degrees while also demonstrating a significant bone repair impact. ConclusionThe mechanical properties of hydrogels can be effectively improved by modifying the system, components, and fiber structure, and bone repair can be effectively promoted.
To summarize the medium-term cl inical result of bio-derived bone transplantation in orthopedics with tissue engineering technique. Methods From December 2000 to June 2001, 10 cases of various types of bone defect were treated with tissue engineered bone, which was constructed in vitro by allogenous osteoblasts from periosteum (1 × 106/ mL) with bio-derived bone scaffold following 3 to 7 days co-culture. Six men and 4 women were involved in this study, aged from 14 to 70 years with a median of 42 years. Among them, there were 2 cases of bone cyst, 1 case of non-union of old fracture, 6 cases of fresh comminuted fracture with bone defect, and 1 case of chronic suppurative ostemyel itis. The total weight of tissue engineered bone was 3-15 g in all the cases, averaged 7.3 g in each case. Results The wound in all the case healed by first intention. For 7 year follow up, bone union was completed within 3.0 to 4.5 months in 9 cases, but loosening occurred and the graft was taken out 1 year after operation in 1 case. The X-ray films showed that 9 cases achieved union except one who received resection of the head of humerus. No obvious abnormities were observed, and the function of affected l imbs met daily l ife and work. Conclusion Bio-derived tissue engineered bone has good osteogenesis. No obvious rejection and other compl ications are observed in the cl inical appl ication.
Objective To investigate the effect of collagen type I concentration on the physical and chemical properties of the collagen hydrogel, and to analyze the effect of different concentrations of collagen type I hydrogel on the phenotype and gene expression of the chondrocytes in vitro. Methods Three kinds of collagen hydrogels with concentrations of 12, 8, and 6 mg/ mL (C12, C8, and C6) were prepared, respectively. The micro-structure, compressive modulus, and swelling ratio of the hydrogels were measured and analyzed. The chondrocytes at 2nd passage were cocultured with three kinds of collagen hydrogels in vitro, respectively. After 1-day culture, the samples were stained with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) / propidium iodide (PI) and the cell activity was observed under confocal laser microscope. After 14-day culture, HE staining and toluidine blue staining were carried out to observe the histological morphology, and mRNA expressions of chondrocytes related genes (collagen type II, Aggrecan, collagen type I, collagen type X, Sox9) were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Results With the increase of collagen type I concentration from 6 to 12 mg/mL, the physical and chemical properties of the collagen hydrogels changed significantly: the fiber network became dense; the swelling ratios of C6, C8, and C12 were 0.260 ± 0.055, 0.358 ± 0.072, and 0.539 ± 0.033 at 192 hours, respectively, showing significant differences among 3 groups (P lt; 0.05); and the compression modulus were (4.86 ± 0.96), (7.09 ± 2.33), and (11.08 ± 3.18) kPa, respectively, showing significant differences among 3 groups (P lt; 0.05). After stained with FDA/PI, most cells were stained green, and few were stained red. The histological observation results showed that the chondrocytes in C12 hydrogels aggregated obviously with b heterochromia, chondrocytes in C8 hydrogels aggregated partly with obvious heterochromia, and chondrcytes in C6 hydrogels uniformly distributed with weak heterochromia. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR results showed that the mRNA expressions of collagen type II and Aggrecan were at the same level in C12, C8, and C6; the expressions of collagen type I, Sox9, and collagen type X were up-regulated with the increase of collagen type I hydrogels concentration, and the expressions were the highest at 12 mg/mL and were the lowest at 6 mg/mL, showing significant differences among 3 groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Increasing the concentration of collagen hydrogels leads to better mechanical properties and higher shrink-resistance, but it may induce the up-regulation of cartilage fibrosis and hypertrophy related gene expression.
Objective To review the current status and problems in the developing scaffolds for the myocardial tissue engineering appl ication. Methods The l iterature concerning the myocardial tissue engineering scaffold in recent years was reviewed extensively and summarized. Results As one of three elements for tissue engineering, a proper scafold is veryimportant for the prol iferation and differentiation of the seeding cells. The naturally derived and synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) materials aim to closely resemble the in vivo microenvironment by acting as an active component of the developing tissue construct in myocardial tissue engineering. With the advent and continuous refinement of cell removal techniques, a new class of native ECM has emerged with some striking advantages. Conclusion Through using the principle of composite scaffold, computers and other high-technology nano-polymer technology, surface modification of traditional biological materials in myocardial tissue engineering are expected to provide ideal myocardial scaffolds.