Bone-targeted ultrasound-responsive nanobubbles for siRNA delivery to treat osteoporosis in mice.

This project aimed to study the efficacy of a bone-targeted ultrasound-responsive nanobubble (NB) platform to deliver gene-silencing cathepsin K (CTSK) siRNA into the bone for osteoporosis treatment using in vitro and in vivo studies. To this end, characterization of CTSK siRNA loaded NB functionalized with alendronate (NB-CTSK siRNA-AL) was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging, and a release profile was obtained through fluorescent spectroscopy. In vitro studies were conducted by culturing NB-CTSK siRNA-AL with osteoclasts to evaluate siRNA uptake, CTSK expression, and the expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP).

Potential bioactive coating system for high-performance absorbable magnesium bone implants.

Magnesium alloys are considered the most suitable absorbable metals for bone fracture fixation implants. The main challenge in absorbable magnesium alloys is their high corrosion/degradation rate that needs to be controlled. Various coatings have been applied to magnesium alloys to slow down their corrosion rates to match their corrosion rate to the regeneration rate of the bone fracture.

Novel antibacterial biodegradable Fe-Mn-Ag alloys produced by mechanical alloying.

Various compositions and synthesis methods of biodegradable iron-based alloys have been studied aiming for the use of temporary medical implants. However, none is focused on nano-structured alloy and on adding antibacterial property to the alloy. In this study, new Fe-30Mn-(1-3)Ag alloys were synthesized by means of mechanical alloying and assessed for their microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion rate, antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity.