In vitro evaluation of borate-based bioactive glass scaffolds prepared by a polymer foam replication method

Borate-based bioactive glass scaffolds with a microstructure similar to that of human trabecular bone were prepared using a polymer foam replication method, and evaluated in vitro for potential bone repair applications. The scaffolds (porosity = 72 ± 3%; pore size = 250–500 μm) had a compressive strength of 6.4 ± 1.0 MPa. The bioactivity of the scaffolds was confirmed by the formation of a hydroxyapatite (HA) layer on the surface of the glass within 7 days in 0.02 M K₂HPO₄ solution at 37 °C. The biocompatibility of the scaffolds was assessed from the response of cells to extracts of the dissolution products of the scaffolds, using assays of MTT hydrolysis, cell viability, and alkaline phosphatase activity. For boron concentrations below a threshold value (0.65 mM), extracts of the glass dissolution products supported the proliferation of bone marrow stromal cells, as well as the proliferation and function of murine MLO-A5 cells, an osteogenic cell line. Scanning electron microscopy showed attachment and continuous increase in the density of MLO-A5 cells cultured on the surface of the glass scaffolds. The results indicate that borate-based bioactive glass could be a potential scaffold material for bone tissue engineering provided that the boron released from the glass could be controlled below a threshold value.     

Synthesis and in vitro bioactivity of novel mesoporous hollow bioactive glass microspheres

The remarkable tissue-repairing bioactivity and biocompatibility of bioactive glass make it suitable for a wide range of applications. Here, novel mesoporous hollow bioactive glass microspheres (MHBGMs) with a uniform diameter range of 2-5 µm were prepared by a sol-gel method. Structural characterization indicated that the shell of hollow sphere had a mesopore size range between 2 and 10 nm and a thickness about 500 nm. The in vitro bioactivity test indicated that the novel structure exhibited high in vitro bioactivity. The uniform microspherical morphology and mesoporous hollow structure of MHBGMs, together with their high bioactivity, turn them into a good candidate as an injectable and drug-loading biomaterial for in vivo tissue regeneration and drug control release.     

Synthesis of high surface area mesoporous bioactive glass nanospheres

Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) nanospheres having the composition of SiO₂-CaO-P₂O₅ with both a large specific surface area (∼ 1040 m² g^− 1) and pore volume (1.54 cm³ g^− 1) were prepared using the ionic surfactant, cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB), as a template. The size of the nanospheres depends on the amount of CaO that is incorporated and can be controlled over the range of diameters from 20 to 200 nm under dilute aqueous condition. In vitro bioactivity studies were carried out in simulated body fluid (SBF). Cytotoxicity tests of the MBG nanospheres were also performed by observing their influence on J774 macrophages at various concentrations.     

Fabrication of porous bioactive glass particles by one step sintering

In this study, we reported a facile method to prepare porous bioactive glass microparticles. Porous particles were synthesized by sintering hollow bioactive glass microspheres obtained using a sol-gel co-template technology. The results showed that porous bioactive glass particles possessed a narrow particle size distribution, a relatively porous surface morphology and a hollow structure. It is worth to say that the resulting microparticles present an amorphous structure although the sintering temperature was improved compared to hollow microspheres. The presence of macropore on the shell may provide an efficient method to carry drugs in the hollow cores. Considering the high deposit rate of nanoscale apatite for bioactive glass materials, the porous microparticles should have potential applications in drug and bioactive molecules delivery, in addition to bone tissue regeneration.     

Polymer/bioactive glass nanocomposites for biomedical applications: A review

Nanoscale bioactive glasses have been gaining attention due to their reported superior osteoconductivity when compared to conventional (micron-sized) bioactive glass materials. The combination of bioactive glass nanoparticles or nanofibers with polymeric systems enables the production of nanocomposites with potential to be used in a series of orthopedic applications, including scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This review presents the state of art of the preparation of nanoscale bioactive glasses and corresponding composites with biocompatible polymers. The recent developments in the preparation methods of nano-sized bioactive glasses are reviewed, covering sol–gel routes, microemulsion techniques, gas phase synthesis method (flame spray synthesis), laser spinning, and electro-spinning. Then, examples of the preparation and properties of nanocomposites based on such inorganic bionanomaterials are presented, obtained using various polymer matrices, including polyesters such as poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(lactic acid) and poly(caprolactone), and natural-based polymers such as polysaccharides (starch, chitin, chitosan) or proteins (silk fibroin, collagen). The physico-chemical, mechanical, and biological advantages of incorporating nanoscale bioactive glasses in such biodegradable nanocomposites are discussed and the possibilities to expand the use of these materials in other nanotechnology concepts aimed to be used in different biomedical applications are also highlighted.     

纳米氧化亚镍/玻璃微球复合粒子的制备及表征

通过均匀沉淀法,将NiO 复合于玻璃微球表面,制备了纳米NiO/玻璃微球复合粒子。X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM) 结果表明,经过共沉积后,在玻璃微球表面生成一层具有面心结构的NiO 层,晶粒尺寸大约为14 nm,这些纳米NiO粒子以丝状胶连的形式附着于玻璃微球表面形成镀层。能谱分析(EDS) 结果显示,纳米NiO粒子在玻璃微球表面形成了分布均匀的镀层。傅立叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR) 表明,所制得的纳米NiO/玻璃微球复合粒子在近红外和远红外波段都表现出良好的红外吸收特性。      

Influence of fluid circulation on in vitro reactivity of bioactive glass particles

The influence of circulation of simulated body fluid (SBF) on the in vitro behavior of glass particles (500–800 μm) was studied for seven glasses by measuring in situ pH inside the particle beds at 37 °C. Reaction layers on particle surfaces were characterized with SEM/EDXA. Differences in the tendency to form reaction layers on surfaces at different locations in the particle beds were determined using samples with interconnected porosity prepared by sintering the particles. Circulation of the solution above the particle bed affected strongly the in vitro behavior of the particles. Due to poor diffusion, the static conditions led to high pH in the SBF within the particle beds and uneven layer formation on the particles. Fluid circulation above the particle beds resulted in a homogenous environment lacking the pronounced pH gradients seen in the static system. The reaction layers on the particles were uniform but thin in the circulating conditions.     

Facile synthesis and in vitro bioactivity of radial mesoporous bioactive glass with high phosphorus and calcium content

A novel uniform monodispersed radial mesoporous bioactive glass nanosphere (MBG) with high phosphorus and calcium content has been successfully synthesized. The synthesis was first taken place in a cyclohexane-water biphasic stratification reaction system, which fabricated the radial mesoporous SiO₂-P₂O₅ nanosphere (SPN) using hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template agent and triethanolamine (TEA) as a hydrolysis catalyst. Solid reactions were then carried out to synthesize SiO₂-CaO-P₂O₅ MBG using SPN as both the silicon source and phosphorus source, and Ca(NO₃)₂ as the calcium source. The prepared MBG not only displayed the radial structure and high specific surface area (~321 m²/g), but also had high phosphorus and calcium content. The results of energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) demonstrated that P₂O₅ content was enhanced by properly increasing the reaction temperature. The in vitro bioactivity test showed that MBG had an excellent ability of inducing apatite formation. Furthermore, the MBG showed excellent biocompatibility at a low concentration of 50–100 μg/mL in vitro, and it would have a promising prospect as drug delivery system for bone tissue regeneration.     

Hierarchically multifunctional bioactive nanoglass for integrated tumor/infection therapy and impaired wound repair

The complex wound repair induced by tumor surgery and infection is still the clinical challenge due to the subsequent tumor recurrence and serious inflammation. Herein, we develop a bioactive Si-Ca-Sr glass-based therapy-regeneration-enabled nanohybrids (BSr@PPE) with hierarchical versatility for overcoming the challenges of tumor and infection-impaired wound repair. BSr@PPE showed a representative concentration-dependent photothermal effect, strong free radical scavenging and antibacterial ability, as well as good UV-shielding properties and high biocompatibility. BSr@PPE could efficiently kill tumor cells through the photothermal effect, show the robust antibacterial activity against normal and multi-drug resistant bacteria and enhance the fibroblasts migration in vitro. In vivo animal experiments suggested that BSr@PPE could effectively promote epithelial reconstruction, collagen deposition and angiogenesis in normal wounds, reduce inflammation and enhance repair in multi-drug bacterial infected wounds, accelerate the tumor-impaired wound through inhibit the tumor cells. This work may provide a new strategy and multifunctional bioactive material for treating the tissue repair and regeneration under the multi-pathological environments.     

纳米生物活性玻璃颗粒的制备及形态控制

采用溶胶-凝胶技术制备纳米生物活性玻璃颗粒, 通过在溶胶中加入柠檬酸来控制生物活性玻璃的形态结构。利用比表面积分析仪、 透射电子显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对纳米生物活性玻璃的结构和形成机制进行了表征。研究结果表明:采用柠檬酸作为水解催化剂可以方便地控制生物活性玻璃的纳米结构形态, 有利于制备较小粒径、 大比表面积和孔体积的生物活性玻璃。这种制备技术提供了一种简单、 低成本制备纳米生物活性玻璃并控制其纳米粒子形态的方法。      

Preparation and evaluation of a novel gastric mucoadhesive sustained-release acyclovir microsphere

Objective: The objective of this study was to prepare a novel gastric mucoadhesive sustained-release acyclovir (AV)-resinate microsphere. Methods: First, AV absorption ratio was quantified in a rat gastrointestinal (GI) tract model. AV-resinate was prepared by bath method and used as cores to prepare microspheres by an emulsion solvent diffusion technique with carbopol 934 as coating material. GI transit test of the prepared microspheres was carried out in rats and beagle dogs, followed by the in vivo bioavailability evaluation of the microspheres in beagle dogs. Results: The AV absorption ratio in different segments of rat's GI track for 3 hours was as following: stomach 9.46 ± 0.62%, duodenum 20.22 ± 1.50%, jejunum 15.7 ± 1.33%, ileum 9.15 ± 1.01%, and colon 4.59 ± 0.48%. These results showed that AV was mainly absorbed in the stomach and upper intestine. The average diameter of the microspheres was 115.3 μm. The microspheres had a drug content of 33.3 ± 0.7% (w/w) and a sustained-release profile for 12 hours in vitro. The mucoadhesive test in rats and beagle dogs showed that most of the microspheres were retained in the stomach 6 hours after oral administration. The in vivo pharmacokinetics test revealed that the microsphere and reference (AV tablets) preparations have no significant difference for C_max. The t_max has increased from 2.33 hours (reference) to 5 hours (test). Meanwhile, the relative bioavailability of AV microspheres was 145%. Conclusion: A novel AV-resinate microsphere was prepared. The microspheres were proved to be gastric mucoadhesive and sustained-release with higher bioavailability.     

ACF/PLGA骨组织工程复合支架的制备及其性能

本文利用溶剂灌制/粒子沥滤的方法将具有较强吸附性能的活性碳纤维(activated carbon fiber,ACF)掺杂于聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物(poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid),PLGA)制备了一种新型ACF/PLGA骨组织工程复合支架。论文对比研究了纯PLGA支架以及两种ACF/PLGA支架(ACF含量为2.75%,8.26%)的结构和性能。SEM研究发现三者都具有较高的孔隙度,分别为73.5340%、75.1214%和79.8216%,且孔隙度随着ACF含量的增加逐渐增大;压汞法测得三者的孔径分布基本在50~250μm之间;研究其亲水性发现,其表面接触角随ACF含量增加逐渐减小,吸水率则逐渐增大。进一步研究发现在三种支架上种植小鼠成纤维细胞(L929),一天后细胞都较好粘附在支架上;ACF含量为8.26%的复合支架移植到小白鼠皮下组织,一月后HE切片显示支架周围组织的免疫排斥反应较小。掺杂ACF的PLGA复合支架除了具有良好的细胞粘附效果和组织相容性,相对于纯PLGA支架,还具有良好的孔径分布和亲水性,具有潜在的应用价值。     

Surface modification of a novel porous titanium dioxide/glass composite

A novel technique is used to produce an open porous titanium dioxide/glass composite, named Ecopore, with promising structural and biological properties for the development as a bone graft. This study aims at a fast and lasting integration of the new material by means of biochemical surface modification. Surface etching of Ecopore, aminosilanization and covalent coupling of the cellular attachment mediator fibronectin was employed as modification strategy. In a comparison of different etching procedures, alkaline etching led to the highest density of amino functions after subsequent aminosilanization. Fibronectin was immobilized using a bifunctional aminoreactive PEG‐linker. This protein coating improved the attachment of human osteoblast‐like cells (HOB) on non‐porous Ecopore as displayed by vital staining. XTT metabolism assays indicated an enhanced HOB growth in the initial phase of cultivation on fibronectin‐coated versus non‐coated specimens. In a first feasibility study, cultivation of HOB on coated porous Ecopore cylinders with a median pore size diameter of 130 μm showed that cellular growth was uniform and dense on the external surface of the specimen, but was sparse in the interior pore system. Ecopore batches with larger pores will be modified and investigated in vitro and in vivo in the next step of the study.     

制备生物活性羟基磷灰石陶瓷粉末的新工艺

为开发制备含CO32-的羟基磷灰石(HA)新工艺,以Ca(OH)2-H3PO4为原料,依据中和法原理,用CaCO3代替部分Ca(OH)2,采用不同于常规的反应温度和加料操作制备HA.通过控制反应体系终点pH值、反应时间和反应温度制得含CO32-的羟基磷灰石,并用XRD和IR技术分析了生成物的组成和结构.研究结果表明:采用本文工艺生成的沉淀物不经陈化,易于过滤分离;制备较佳工艺条件为:反应体系终点pH值控制在微酸性条件(pH=6),反应温度≥75℃,沉淀反应时间约3 h.     

新型改性的n-HA与PLGA复合材料的制备及性能研究

采用硅烷偶联剂(KH550)和L-丙交酯LLA联合接枝处理的新方法对纳米羟基磷灰石(n–HA)进行表面改性, 然后将其与聚乳酸-羟基乙酸(PLGA)作不同比例复合(n-HA为3wt%、10wt%、20wt%及30wt%), 得到改性n-HA/PLGA复合材料(g-n-HA/PLGA)。将其与未改性n-HA及未改性n-HA/PLGA复合材料作对比检测。结果表明, 该联合处理方法是n-HA进行表面接枝改性的新型有效方法。且改性处理后的n-HA与未改性处理的n-HA相比, 能更好地在PLGA基体中分散均匀, 并能提高PLGA结晶能力和PLGA的力学性能。当改性处理后的n-HA添加量为10wt%时, 其复合材料抗弯强度和拉伸强度分别比未改性n-HA/PLGA提高14.4%和11.3%。该新型g-n-HA/PLGA复合材料有望用作骨折固定材料。     

Development of novel metallic glass/polymer composite materials by microwave heating in a separated H-field

Using a single mode 915 MHz applicator, we fabricate novel Cu₅₀Zr₄₅Al₅ metallic glass/polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composites with high relative densities by microwave processing the constituents in a separated H-field with an applied pressure of about 5 MPa. The heating behaviors and structural changes of the composites have been investigated. A good bonding state between metallic glassy and PPS particles is found. The gradient structure is also induced by microwave heating of the composites with a high fraction of PPS phase.     

浸泡腐蚀对玻璃纤维-空心玻璃微珠/环氧树脂复合泡沫材料弯曲性能的影响

制备了不同纤维质量分数的玻璃纤维-空心玻璃微珠/环氧树脂复合泡沫材料。通过三点弯曲试验研究了纤维质量分数对复合泡沫材料力学性能的影响。将复合泡沫材料试件置于蒸馏水和海水中浸泡,研究了浸泡腐蚀对试件弯曲性能的影响,并结合扫描电镜照片分析其原因。研究表明:纤维质量分数越高,玻璃纤维-空心玻璃微珠/环氧树脂复合泡沫材料的吸湿率越大,且在蒸馏水中的吸湿率较海水中的更大。试件的弯曲强度随纤维质量分数增加而增大,当纤维质量分数为10%时达到最大,比未添加纤维的试件增强了51%,之后则随纤维质量分数增加逐渐降低。浸泡腐蚀降低了试件的弯曲性能,其中海水浸泡后的试件弯曲性能最低。玻璃纤维-空心玻璃微珠/环氧树脂复合泡沫材料弯曲强度降低的直接原因是浸泡腐蚀使得部分玻璃微珠和玻璃纤维与环氧树脂基体间的界面层受到破坏。     

空心玻璃微珠的生产及工艺研究进展

主要概述了空心玻璃微珠的国内外生产现状、最新工艺技术。分析了空心玻璃微珠的市场前景。     

Synthesis and characterisation of sol gel derived bioactive glass for biomedical applications

Bioactive glasses have been used successfully as bone-filling materials in orthopaedic and dental surgery, but their poor mechanical strength limits their applications in load-bearing positions. Approaches to strengthen materials decrease their bioactivity. In order to realize the optimal matching between mechanical and biological properties, the sol-gel-self propagating method is adopted to prepare gel-derived bioglass bulk: 58S in the system SiO₂–CaO–P₂O₅. The obtained glass was analysed for its composition, crystalinity and morphology through FT-IR, Raman, XRD, STEM and X-ray microanalysis.