In vitro proliferation and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells on hydroxyapatite versus human demineralised bone matrix with and without osteogenic protein-1

Background: Allografting is currently used in lower limb reconstruction surgery. Demineralised bone matrix (DBM) is more osteoinductive compared with allografts but lacks mechanical strength. Osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) can improve the osteoinductivity of the allograft, however recent reports indicate significant allograft resorption when it is combined with OP-1. Objectives: Our hypothesis was that hydroxyapatite (HA) with human-mesenchymal stem cells (h-MSCs) and OP-1 (HA+h-MSCs+OP-1) has similar osteoinductive properties to human-DBM+h-MSCs. The objective was to evaluate h-MSC proliferation (by tritiated thymidine incorporation, total DNA Hoechst 33258 and scanning electron microscopy) and osteogenic differentiation (from alkaline phosphatase activity) in human demineralised bone matrix (h-DBM) and HA, with or without OP-1. Results: H-MSC proliferation on HA+OP-1 was significantly higher compared with that on HA at all time points (p < 0.05) and compared with DBM alone [day 1, (198.4 vs 95.4) p = 0.042; day 14 (286.1 vs 119.9), p < 0.001]. H-MSC proliferation was higher in DBM+OP-1, at all time points compared with HA+OP-1 but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). H-MSC differentiation was significantly higher in HA+OP-1 compared with HA (p < 0.05) but not significantly different from diffferentiation on DBM alone (p > 0.05). Differentiation was significantly higher on DBM+OP-1 at all time points compared with HA (p < 0.05) and with HA+OP-1 [day 1, (21.1 vs 10.1) (p = 0.03); day 7 (39.4 vs 7.1) (p < 0.01); day 14 (40.2 vs 14.4) (p < 0.001)]. Conclusions: When HA+h-MSCs is combined with OP-1 in vitro its osteogenic potential is similar to that of DBM+h-MSCs alone which may be adequate for non-weight-bearing applications. Mechanical testing however is of great importance for weight-bearing applications and the in vivo testing of the composite graft HA+h-MSCs+OP-1 vs DBM+h-MSCs is recommended.     

Purification and characterization of a juvenile hormone binding protein from the hemolymph of the fourth instar tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

A protein which binds the insect juvenile hormone has been isolated from the hemolymph of the fourth instar tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera). Bioassay and chemical characterization of the bound ligand from the purified binding protein indicates that this molecule is the primary macromolecule responsible for juvenile hormone transport in the hemolymph of this insect. The juvenile hormone binding protein has been purified using gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein is a single polypeptide chain of about 28,000 daltons with a sedimentation coefficient of 2.2S and an isoelectric point of 5.0. Binding analysis using a hydroxyapatite batch assay indicates that the juvenile hormone binding protein has one binding site with a Ka of 1.2 times 10(7) M-1 at 4 degrees C.     

Ca-adsorption and apatite deposition on silk fabrics modified with phosphate polymer chains

Silk fabric was modified with polymethacryloyloxyethylphosphate (pMOEP) by graft copolymerization. Ca-adsorption onto pMOEP-grafted silk fabric was significantly enhanced compared to that onto original silk fabric. SEM observation indicated that some crystallites were deposited on the pMOEP-grafted silk fabric after 1 week of immersion in simulated body fluid, whereas no change occurred on the surface of the original silk fabric. X-ray diffraction showed that this crystallite contained hydroxyapatite. These results indicate that pMOEP-grafted silk fabric induce hydroxyapatite formation more effectively than the original silk fabric.     

Biocompatibility evaluation of emulsion electrospun nanofibers using osteoblasts for bone tissue engineering

Emulsion electrospinning is an advanced technique to fabricate core-shell structured nanofibrous scaffolds, with great potential for drug encapsulation. Incorporation of dual factors hydroxyapatite (HA) and laminin, respectively, within the shell and core of nanofibers through emulsion electrospinning might be of advantageous in supporting the adhesion, proliferation, and maturation of cells instead of single factor-encapsulated nanofibers. We fabricated poly(L-lactic acid-co-?-caprolactone) (PLCL)/hydroxyapaptite (PLCL/HA), PLCL/laminin (PLCL/Lam), and PLCL/hydroxyapatite/laminin (PLCL/HA/Lam) scaffolds with fiber diameter of 388?±?35, 388?±?81, and 379?±?57?nm, respectively, by emulsion electrospinning. The elastic modulus of the prepared scaffolds ranged from 22.7–37.0?MPa. The osteoblast proliferation on PLCL/HA/Lam scaffolds, determined on day 21, was found 10.4% and 12.0% higher than the cell proliferation on PLCL/Lam or PLCL/HA scaffold, respectively. Cell maturation determined on day 14, by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, was significantly higher on PLCL/HA/Lam scaffolds than the ALP activity on PLCL/HA and PLCL/Lam scaffolds (p???0.05). Results of the energy dispersive X-ray studies carried out on day 28 also showed higher calcium deposition by cells seeded on PLCL/HA/Lam scaffolds. Osteoblasts were found to adhere, proliferate, and mature actively on PLCL/HA/Lam nanofibers with enhanced cell proliferation, ALP activity, bone protein expression, and mineral deposition. Based on the results, we can conclude that laminin and HA individually played roles in osteoblast proliferation and maturation, and the synergistic function of both factors within the novel emulsion electrospun PLCL/HA/Lam nanofibers enhanced the functionality of osteoblasts, confirming their potential application in bone tissue regeneration.     

羟基磷灰石／壳聚糖复合微球的制备及其生物学作用的体外研究

目的：通过探究羟基磷灰石（HAp）壳聚糖（CS）复合微球支架对骨髓间充质干细胞体外生物学行为的影响,评估其作为骨组织工程支架的可行性。方法纳米 HAp 和CS 复合物通过微流体技术自组装成微球支架,显微镜下形态学观察。将 P2代骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）与微球行体外共培养,计算前6 h 黏附率。培养1、3、6、9 d,计算增殖率并用 GraphPad Prism 6软件对数据进行处理;行扫描电镜及共聚焦扫描式显微镜检测,观察细胞黏附及分布。将细胞微球复合物填入自制模具中培养14～21 d,进行形态观察。结果显微镜镜下微球为完整的圆形,大小一致。BMSCs 与微球体外培养6 h,黏附率达90％以上。6 d 时,BMSCs 的增殖率达到最高。扫描电镜结果显示微球上有大量 BMSCs 黏附定植并分泌大量胞外基质将微球连接成整体;共聚焦扫描式显微镜结果可见明显的细胞骨架微丝蛋白。细胞微球体外模具培养18 d 后,形成了结构完整的组织块。结论HAp-CS 微球是一种良好的促BMSCs 种子细胞黏附定植的支架材料,是促进细胞生长的有效支撑载体,与共培养细胞形成的复合组织块有望应用于体内动物实验修复标准缺损。