MicroRNA-200c Release from Gelatin-Coated 3D-Printed PCL Scaffolds Enhances Bone Regeneration.

The fabrication of clinically relevant synthetic bone grafts relies on combining multiple biodegradable biomaterials to create a structure that supports the regeneration of defects while delivering osteogenic biomolecules that enhance regeneration. MicroRNA-200c () functions as a potent osteoinductive biomolecule to enhance osteogenic differentiation and bone formation; however, synthetic tissue-engineered bone grafts that sustain the delivery of for bone regeneration have not yet been evaluated. In this study, we created novel, multimaterial, synthetic bone grafts from gelatin-coated 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds.

High Molecular Weight Poly(glutamic acid) to Improve BMP2-Induced Osteogenic Differentiation.

FDA-approved bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) has serious side effects due to the super high dose requirement. Heparin is one of the most well-studied sulfated polymers to stabilize BMP2 and improve its functionality. However, the clinical use of heparin is questionable because of its undesired anticoagulant activity.

Vanillin-bioglass cross-linked 3D porous chitosan scaffolds with strong osteopromotive and antibacterial abilities for bone tissue engineering.

Chitosan scaffolds crosslinked by current methods insufficiently meet the demands of bone tissue engineering applications. We developed a novel effective crosslinking technique by using the natural and safe vanillin together with bioglass microparticles to generate an antibacterial, osteoconductive, and mechanically robust 3D porous chitosan-vanillin-bioglass (CVB) scaffold. In addition to the significantly improved mechanical properties, the CVB scaffolds had high porosity (>90%) and interconnected macroporous structures.

Nanoclay Promotes Mouse Cranial Bone Regeneration Mainly through Modulating Drug Binding and Sustained Release.

Nanoclay (Nanosilicates, NS) is appearing as an intriguing 2D nanomaterial for bone tissue engineering with multiple proposed functions, e.g., intrinsic osteoinductivity, improving mechanical properties, and drug release capacity.

Biomimetic Nanofibrous 3D Materials for Craniofacial Bone Tissue Engineering.

Repair of large bone defects using biomaterials-based strategies has been a significant challenge due to the complex characteristics required for tissue regeneration, especially in the craniofacial region. Tissue engineering strategies aimed at restoration of function face challenges in material selection, synthesis technique, and choice of bioactive factor release in combination with all aforementioned facets. Biomimetic nanofibrous (NF) scaffolds are attractive vehicles for tissue engineering due to their ability to promote endogenous bone regeneration by mimicking the shape and chemistry of natural bone extracellular matrix (ECM).

One-pot porogen free method fabricated porous microsphere-aggregated 3D PCL scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds with interconnected, hierarchically structured pores, and biomimetic nanostructures are desirable for tissue engineering, where preparation with a facile and biocompatible strategy remains challenging. In the present work, an innovative porous microspheres-aggregated 3D PCL scaffold with macropores, micropores, and nanofibrous-like structures was fabricated through a one-pot thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method without the use of any porogen or specific instruments. Importantly, the porosity, pore size, and mechanical properties of our scaffolds were tailorable through tuning of the polymer concentration.

Tailoring weight ratio of PCL/PLA in electrospun three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds and the effect on osteogenic differentiation of stem cells.

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds as artificial ECMs have been extensively studied to mimic the critical features of natural ECMs. To develop more clinically relevant 3D scaffolds, electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds with different weight ratios of PCL/PLA (i.e.

Functionalization of PCL-3D Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Improved BMP2-Induced Bone Formation.

Bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) is a key growth factor for bone regeneration, possessing FDA approval for orthopedic applications. BMP2 is often required in supratherapeutic doses clinically, yielding adverse side effects and substantial treatment costs. Considering the crucial role of materials for BMPs delivery and cell osteogenic differentiation, we devote to engineering an innovative bone-matrix mimicking niche to improve low dose of BMP2-induced bone formation.

Three dimensional electrospun PCL/PLA blend nanofibrous scaffolds with significantly improved stem cells osteogenic differentiation and cranial bone formation.

Nanofibrous scaffolds that are morphologically/structurally similar to natural ECM are highly interested for tissue engineering; however, the electrospinning technique has the difficulty in directly producing clinically relevant 3D nanofibrous scaffolds with desired structural properties. To address this challenge, we have developed an innovative technique of thermally induced nanofiber self-agglomeration (TISA) recently. The aim of this work was to prepare (via the TISA technique) and evaluate 3D electrospun PCL/PLA blend (mass ratio: 4/1) nanofibrous scaffolds having high porosity of ∼95.

Electrospun polycaprolactone 3D nanofibrous scaffold with interconnected and hierarchically structured pores for bone tissue engineering.

For the first time, electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) 3D nanofibrous scaffold has been developed by an innovative and convenient approach (i.e., thermally induced nanofiber self-agglomeration followed by freeze drying), and the scaffold possesses interconnected and hierarchically structured pores including macropores with sizes up to ≈300 μm.