Repair of facial nerve crush injury in rabbits using collagen plus basic fibroblast growth factor.

Facial nerves are frequently crushed or cut during facial surgery. In this study, the feasibility of repairing facial nerves in rabbits after crush or cut off injury was evaluated using collagen conduits with A collagen-binding domain (CBD)-human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). A total of 39 six-month-old New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of nine rabbits, and bilateral crush or cut off injuries were made on each animal's face.

Collagen/nano-sized β-tricalcium phosphate conduits combined with collagen filaments and nerve growth factor promote facial nerve regeneration in miniature swine: an in vivo study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of a novel biomedical system that repairs facial nerve gaps in a miniature swine model.

Study Design: A collagen (COL)/nano-sized β-tricalcium phosphate (nβ-TCP) conduit combined with COL filaments and nerve growth factor (NGF) was prepared and used to bridge a 35-mm-long facial nerve gap in miniature swine. The functional recovery and axonal regeneration were evaluated by electrophysiologic and histologic assessments in the different groups at 6 months postoperatively.

Collagen/β-TCP nerve guidance conduits promote facial nerve regeneration in mini-swine and the underlying biological mechanism: A pilot in vivo study.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of new nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) in bridging facial nerve gaps, and investigate the underlying biological mechanisms implicated in the regeneration process. A collagen/β-TCP conduit was prepared and applied to a facial nerve gap in a mini-swine model. Functional recovery and axonal regeneration were further evaluated by electrophysiological and histological examinations at 3 months after surgery.

Restoration of mandibular bone defects with demineralized bone matrix combined with three-dimensional cultured bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in minipig models.

Mandibular defects, caused by congenital, pathological or iatrogenic insults, can significantly affect patient quality of life. The reconstruction of mandible has recently gained the interest of clinical and tissue engineering researchers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of three-dimensional (3-D) cultured autologous grafts prepared using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) combined with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) scaffolds for the restoration of mandibular defects.

Functional collagen conduits combined with human mesenchymal stem cells promote regeneration after sciatic nerve transection in dogs.

Numerous studies have focused on the development of novel and innovative approaches for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury using artificial nerve guide conduits. In this study, we attempted to bridge 3.5-cm defects of the sciatic nerve with a longitudinally oriented collagen conduit (LOCC) loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs).

Microarray gene expression of periosteum in spontaneous bone regeneration of mandibular segmental defects.

Spontaneous bone regeneration could occur to reestablish mandibular bony continuity in patients who underwent partial or total mandibulectomy for tumors with periosteum-preserving. However, scarce data is available related to the precise role of periosteum in this bone regeneration. Therefore we aimed to investigate the gene expression of periosteum that were involved in the mandibular bone regeneration.

Efect of longitudinally oriented collagen conduit combined with nerve growth factor on nerve regeneration after dog sciatic nerve injury.

The research on artificial nerve conduits has become a focus of study in peripheral nerve reconstruction so as a possible replacement for the treatment of autologous nerve grafts in clinics. In this study, we used longitudinally oriented collagen conduit (LOCC) combined with nerve growth factor (NGF) to reconstruct long distance of sciatic nerve defects (35 mm) in adult dog model. The long term follow-up evaluation demonstrated that the LOCC/NGF conduit allowed functional and morphological nerve regeneration at the transection site of the injured sciatic nerve.

Individualized treatment for the mandibular segmental defect: a case report.

Ameloblastomas are slowly growing, locally invasive tumors with high recurrence rate and more common in the mandible, if not treated they can grow to enormous size. Radical resection is the only predictable form of treatment for ameloblastomas. However, mandibular resection can lead to dysfunctions in appearance, speech, mastication, and deglutition, which severely impair the patients' quality of life.

Collagen scaffolds combined with collagen-binding ciliary neurotrophic factor facilitate facial nerve repair in mini-pigs.

The preclinical studies using animal models play a very important role in the evaluation of facial nerve regeneration. Good models need to recapitulate the distance and time for axons to regenerate in humans. Compared with the most used rodent animals, the structure of facial nerve in mini-pigs shares more similarities with humans in microanatomy.

Collagen scaffolds modified with CNTF and bFGF promote facial nerve regeneration in minipigs.

Most experiments of peripheral nerve repair after injury have been conducted in the rodent model but the translation of findings from rodent studies to clinical practice is needed partly because the nerve regeneration must occur over much longer distances in humans than in rodents. The reconstruction of long distance nerve injuries still represents a great challenge to surgeons who is engaged in peripheral nerve surgery. Here we used the functional nerve conduit (collagen scaffolds incorporated with neurocytokines CNTF and bFGF) to bridge a 35 mm long facial nerve gap in minipig models.

Bone forming capacity of cell- and growth factor-based constructs at different ectopic implantation sites.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of implantation site (i.e., subcutaneous, SQ vs.

In vitro and in vivo angiogenic capacity of BM-MSCs/HUVECs and AT-MSCs/HUVECs cocultures.

The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the angiogenic capacity of cocultures using either human bone marrow- or human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (BM- or AT-MSCs) with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) both in vitro and in vivo at early time points (i.e. days 3 and 7).

Concise review: cell-based strategies in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Cellular strategies play an important role in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (BTE/RM). Variability in cell culture procedures (e.g.

Comparison of cell-loading methods in hydrogel systems.

Bone regenerative medicine, based on the combined use of cells and scaffolds, represents a promising strategy in bone regeneration. Hydrogels have attracted huge interests for application as a scaffold for minimally invasive surgery. Collagen and oligo(poly(ethylene glycol)fumarate) (OPF) hydrogels are the representatives of two main categories of hydrogels, that is, natural- and synthetic-based hydrogels.

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells as monocultures or cocultures with human umbilical vein endothelial cells: performance in vitro and in rat cranial defects.

The aim of this study was to compare the osteogenic capacity between human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) and their cocultures with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and their biological performance in vivo. First, the optimal cell ratio in cocultures for osteogenic differentiation was determined by seeding AT-MSCs and HUVECs in ratios varying from 100:0 to 0:100 on tissue culture plates. Afterward, AT-MSCs and AT-MSCs/HUVECs (50:50) were seeded on porous titanium fiber mesh scaffolds (Ti) for both in vitro and in vivo osteogenic evaluation.

The in vivo performance of CaP/PLGA composites with varied PLGA microsphere sizes and inorganic compositions.

Enrichment of calcium phosphate (CaP) bone substitutes with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres to create porosity overcomes the problem of poor CaP degradation. The degradation of CaP-PLGA composites can be customized by changing the physical and chemical properties of PLGA and/or CaP. However, the effect of the size of dense (solid rather than hollow) PLGA microspheres in CaP has not previously been described.

Differences in the structure and osteogenesis capacity of the periosteum from different parts of minipig mandibles.

Purpose: To compare the structural and cellular differences of the periosteum from different parts of the mandible in minipigs by use of histologic and immunohistochemical methods to confirm the areas in which periosteal osteogenesis in situ can be used to treat mandible defects.

Materials And Methods: Three minipigs were killed, and the left mandible of each was retrieved with the periosteum remaining and then fixed, decalcified, and embedded. The specimens were cut from the buccal and lingual sides of the ramus, angle, and body of the mandible and the mentum.

Coculture of osteoblasts and endothelial cells: optimization of culture medium and cell ratio.

Vascularization strategies in cell-based bone tissue engineering depend on optimal culture conditions. The present study aimed to determine optimal cell culture medium and cell ratio for cocultures of human marrow stromal cells (HMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in view of both osteogenic and angiogenic outcome parameters upon two-dimensional and three-dimensional culture conditions. Cultures were performed in four different media: osteoblastic cell proliferation medium, osteogenic medium (OM), endothelial medium, and a 1:1 mixture of the latter two media.

Determination of critical size defect of minipig mandible.

The critical size defect (CSD) of bone can provide a standard for evaluating the usefulness of bone repair materials or methods. The present study aimed to determine the CSDs of the minipig mandible with and without the periosteum. Ten 18 month-old female minipigs were used.

[Research of immunization with recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-pacA and pcDNA3-pacP against dental caries in gnotobiotic rats. I: Measurement of specific anti-PAc S-IgA, IgG, valence].

Objective: In this study, rats were immunized with pcDNA3-pacA and pcDNA3-pacP through submandibular gland, the valence of specific anti-PAc S-IgA,IgG were measured.

Methods: Gnotobiotic rats were vaccinated with pcDNA3-pacA, pcDNA3-pacP and combination use of pcDNA3-pacA and pcDNA3-pacP through submandibular gland. The valence of specific anti-PAc S-IgA in salivary, IgG in serum were measured.