骨组织工程纳米复合支架及其生物学评价

目的:综述骨组织工程常用支架材料的种类及其性能,同时,简介一种新型的,可降解的,具有三维空间网络结构的纳米支架材料——细菌纤维素/羟基磷灰石复合材料,并探讨纳米生物材料的安全性评价.资料来源:检索人为第一作者,检索文献时限为1979-01/2009-06,检索数据库为PubMed数据库(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed)及CNKI数据库(www.cnki.net/index.htm).中文检索词"骨组织工程,细菌纤维素,安全性评价";英文检索词为"bone tissue engineering,Bacterial cellulose,safety evaluation".资料选择:①文章所述内容与骨组织工程密切相关.②有关于纳米材料安全性评价的文章.结局评价指标:骨组织工程材料的种类及性能,纳米材料的安全性.结果:常用的3种支架材料有天然生物材料,人工合成高分子生物材料及陶瓷材料.单一材料难以满足组织工程所需的机械强度和生物相容性,而生理状态的磷灰石是纳米级,纳米级复合材料更符合仿生的原则.细菌纤维素与具有极好生物活性、骨传导作用和骨结合能力的纳米羟基磷灰石复合制成纤维状复合支架材料,不仅具有足够的强度,还具有骨传导功能,以满足骨细胞在支架上的黏附和繁殖,成为一种很有前途的骨组织工程纳米支架材料.对生物材料生物相容性的研究与评价,不仅要从整体水平去观察材料对人体各系统的影响,从细胞水平去观察材料对细胞的数量、形态及分化的影响,还要深入到分子水平去观察材料对细胞DNA、mRNA以及蛋白表达水平的影响.结论:由于细菌纤维素,羟基磷灰石复合支架材料结合细菌纤维素和羟基磷灰石两种材料的优点,其复合产物的性能将优于传统的骨组织工程产品.对其完成一系列生物相容性评价后,新一代骨组织工程三维纳米纤维仿生支架材料便可安全的投入到临床应用.     

纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素复合组织工程支架的细胞毒性和生物相容性

背景：天津大学材料学院利用仿生学方法制备的纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素复合支架材料,具有与天然骨相似的结构和性能。目的：研究纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素复合组织工程支架的细胞毒性和生物相容性。方法：①急性全身性毒性实验：将纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素材料浸提液与生理盐水分别注射至昆明小鼠腹腔,注射24,48,72 h记录小鼠体质量。②致敏实验：在日本大耳白兔背部皮下分别注射纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素材料浸提液与生理盐水,72 h内观察注射部位水肿及红斑情况,间隔14 d后再次行激发实验。③热源实验：在日本大耳白兔耳缘静脉注射纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素材料浸提液,注射后检测体温变化。④溶血实验：在稀释的兔抗凝血中分别加入纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素材料浸提液、生理盐水与蒸馏水。⑤将第3代兔骨髓间充质干细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素材料共培养,观察材料表面细胞增殖、生长及黏附状态。结果与结论：纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素复合支架材料无急性全身毒性、无致敏性、无热源反应、无溶血反应,该支架材料具有三维网络结构,骨髓间充质干细胞在材料表面生长、增殖及黏附良好,表明纳米羟基磷灰石/细菌纤维素复合支架材料具有良好的生物相容性与细胞相容性。     

骨修复用纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66的体内外生物相容性(英文)

背景:采用基于纳米羟基磷灰石溶胶新方法制备纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66复合材料,该材料提高了纳米羟基磷灰石在聚酰胺66基体中的均匀分布和二者的有效键合,进而有利于改善材料的生物性能,有望成为新型骨修复材料.目的:评价纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66复合材料体内外生物相容性.方法:①将原代培养的成骨细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66及聚酰胺66材料复合培养,使用倒置相差显微镜和场发射扫描电子显微镜观察材料周围及表面的细胞形态.②将纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66复合材料植入兔右侧胫骨,将聚酰胺66作为对照组材料植入兔左侧胫骨.在术后2,8周,取材料周围骨组织进行病理组织切片观察.结果与结论:①纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66和聚酰胺66未表现出明显的细胞毒性,纳米羟基磷灰石,聚酰胺66材料周围细胞形态好于聚酰胺66,且纳米羟基磷灰石僳酰胺66表面细胞数量多于聚酰胺66,在复合培养的第3天差异尤其显著(P<0.01).②在植入早期,与纳米羟基磷灰石僳酰胺66相接的骨组织成骨细胞活跃且该组材料周围的骨形成过程较对照组更快.结果说明纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66复合材料较聚酰胺66有更好的生物相容性.     

电纺纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酯酰胺复合支架材料的制备及其细胞相容性

背景:采用静电纺丝技术将功能性无机纳米微粒复合高分子超细纤维,形成类细胞外基质结构和功能的复合支架材料是骨组织工程支架领域一个新的研究方向。目的:通过静电纺丝法构建纳米羟基磷灰石/脂肪族聚酯酰胺复合纤维支架材料,并初步考察其细胞相容性。方法:以静电纺丝法制备纳米羟基磷灰石/脂肪族聚酯酰胺超细纤维支架材料,通过扫描电镜、原子能谱等表面形貌的物相分析,进行细胞在复合材料上的形态学观察。结果与结论:通过静电纺丝法成功制备出纳米羟基磷灰石/脂肪族聚酯酰胺超细纤维复合材料,成骨细胞直接培养于材料上呈现良好生长行为,初步证实了复合支架材料的细胞相容性。说明静电纺丝技术在构建类骨细胞外基质结构和功能的仿生复合材料方面具有独特优势,电纺超细纤维复合材料有望成为新型的骨组织工程支架。     

组织工程技术仿生构建颅颌骨组织的研究

目的:探索构建组织工程化仿生骨种植体的方法流程,并制备成骨细胞-可吸收载体种植体样品,同时尝试建立组织工程化非承载骨种植体的评价方法。方法:实验于2001-05/2005-12分别在天津市口腔医院组织工程实验室和天津大学材料学院高分子材料研究所完成。①通过相分离技术制备壳聚糖/明胶三维网络多孔支架,在支架材料表面原位沉积纳米级的羟基磷灰石晶体,构筑纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶仿生骨组织工程支架材料,并进行表征和性能检测。②用酶消化法和条件培养法分离、诱导培养中国小型猪成骨细胞作为组织工程种子细胞。③用静态复合共培养法体外构建2种骨组织工程种植体样品:成骨细胞-纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶仿生骨种植体,成骨细胞-纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原种植体。④采用扫描电镜、透射电镜、FDA荧光、LDH、MTT等定期观测仿生骨样品中细胞形态、细胞增殖速率、碱性磷酸酶活性、矿化结节形成等指标,以比较样品的细胞增殖活性和成骨活性。结果:①成功构筑了具有良好的生物相容性和力学相容性的纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶,这种材料具有适于细胞黏附与生长的(90±1)%的孔隙率,孔径为100￣300μm的微孔结构,且原位沉积的纳米羟基磷灰石晶体的粒径为50nm左右,接近与天然骨的组成。②自中国小型猪腿骨成功分离培养了成骨细胞,并在诱导培养条件下,表现出很强的增殖活力和成骨活性,适合作为实验用骨组织工程的种子细胞。③成功构建了两种成骨细胞-可吸收载体种植体样品:经检验仿生构建的小型猪成骨细胞-纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶种植体具有细胞亲和性和体外成骨活性。结论:①在体外成功仿生构建了结构与活性接近天然骨的骨组织工程种植体--纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶种植体。②初步建立了仿生组织工程化非承载骨种植体的评价方法,为其进一步用于体内修复颅颌骨组织损伤的深化研究提供了实验数据和科学依据。     

成骨诱导人脐带间充质干细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66支架材料的生物相容性

背景:纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66材料有利于成骨细胞的长入和新生骨的形成、且抗弯强度、抗压强度等各项参数与正常骨组织的力学性能相接近,能满足实验动物硬组织修复的要求.目的:分析成骨诱导后人脐带间充质干细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66复合支架的生物相容性.方法:体外培养人脐带间充质干细胞,纯化增殖,成骨诱导.取成骨诱导后的第3代人脐带间充质干细胞接种于纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66支架材料上,观察细胞的生长、增殖情况及材料细胞毒性.结果与结论:成骨诱导后人脐带间充质干细胞在复合支架上生长分化良好,增殖活性不受材料影响.成骨诱导14 d内,可见碱性磷酸酶活性随着培养时间延长而逐渐增高.MTT法检测细胞无毒性.扫描电镜观察,1 d后可见细胞在支架表面附着生长;7 d后可见细胞在材料上生长良好,材料空隙有大量充填.说明纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66支架可作为骨组织工程中人脐带间充质干细胞的细胞载体,具有良好的生物相容性,能满足骨组织工程的需要.     

胶原-纳米羟基磷灰石复合支架的细胞相容性

背景:观察成骨细胞在生物材料上的形态、增殖和分化等项目,可评估生物支架材料的生物相容性。目的:观察复合支架材料纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原对成骨细胞增殖、分化的影响。方法:取新生24h内Wistar大鼠的颅盖骨,采用改良胶原酶消化法进行成骨细胞原代培养,取第3代细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原支架或普通羟基磷灰石材料体外复合培养。培养3,6,9d后,观察材料周边的细胞形态及支架材料对细胞分化、增殖的影响。结果与结论:纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原材料较普通的羟基磷灰石材料更有利于成骨细胞的黏附、生长、分化、增殖,证实其生物相容性更好,有望成为一种新型的骨组织工程支架材料。     

胶原-纳米羟基磷灰石复合支架的细胞相容性

背景：观察成骨细胞在生物材料上的形态、增殖和分化等项目,可评估生物支架材料的生物相容性。目的：观察复合支架材料纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原对成骨细胞增殖、分化的影响。方法：取新生24h内Wistar大鼠的颅盖骨,采用改良胶原酶消化法进行成骨细胞原代培养,取第3代细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原支架或普通羟基磷灰石材料体外复合培养。培养3,6,9d后,观察材料周边的细胞形态及支架材料对细胞分化、增殖的影响。结果与结论：纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原材料较普通的羟基磷灰石材料更有利于成骨细胞的黏附、生长、分化、增殖,证实其生物相容性更好,有望成为一种新型的骨组织工程支架材料。     

琼脂-羟基磷灰石复合物的仿生合成及细胞相容性

背景:以有机大分子作为矿化模版进行骨组织修复材料的仿生构建,是目前骨修复材料的研究热点.而将琼脂应用于骨修复材料的报道较少.目的:仿生合成一种由琼脂和羟基磷灰石组成的新型纳米复合骨组织修复材料,评价其理化性能和细胞相容性.方法:①将一定量的非纳米羟基磷灰石的盐酸溶液,加入一定量的琼脂溶胶中,调整反应体系的pH值至7～8,然后将反应形成的复合物冷冻干燥后即得琼脂-羟基磷灰石复合材料.②将第3代SD大鼠骨髓基质细胞与琼脂-羟基磷灰石复合材料共培养,于培养1,3,5 d时观察细胞生长情况.结果与结论:X射线衍射仪,傅里叶变换红外光谱仪,热分析仪,透射电镜和扫描电镜对材料进行表征分析,显示琼脂良好控制了磷灰石晶体的生长,纳米的磷灰石晶体均匀分布在琼脂纤维中,琼脂-羟基磷灰石复合物具有多孔结构.共培养3,5 d时骨髓基质细胞在复合物中生长良好,并有较明显的细胞骨架形成.提示琼脂-羟基磷灰石复合物具有良好的理化性质和细胞相容性.     

改性纳米羟基磷灰石表面性质及对成骨细胞贴壁生长的影响

背景:生物材料表面性质的改变能够影响其与细胞的相互作用,并进一步影响细胞黏附能力、基因表达等行为.目的:评价改性纳米羟基磷灰石的表面性质及其对成骨细胞在材料表面黏附能力的影响.方法:参考作者既往实验制备纳米羟基磷灰石和改性纳米羟基磷灰石,利用zeta 电位仪测定改性纳米羟基磷灰石的zeta电位,通过测定水在改性羟基磷灰石表面的接触角,结合成骨细胞黏附试验,分析表面改性对材料的细胞黏附能力和生物相容性的影响.结果与结论:改性纳米羟基磷灰石表面呈疏水性,接触角为93°,成骨细胞黏附实验表明,改性纳米羟基磷灰石表面比纳米羟基磷灰石表面黏附更多的成骨细胞,表明表面改性增强了纳米羟基磷灰石的生物相容性.     

气电纺纳米羟基磷灰石/聚羟基丁酸酯复合纤维支架对大鼠骨髓基质细胞成骨分化的影响

背景:利用静电纺丝技术制备的纤维支架材料具有类似于细胞外间质的形态和结构,且其独特的生产工艺可以很便捷地将功能性纳米颗粒复合入高分子纤维内,在制备组织工程支架方面具有独特的优势.目的:创新性地将物理共混法与气流-高压静电纺丝技术相结合,仿生构建纳米羟基磷灰石/聚羟基丁酸酯复合纳米纤维支架材料,评价其作为骨组织工程支架在体外的生物活性.设计、时间及地点:细胞学体外实验,于2008-03/2009-04在四川大学口腔疾病研究国家重点实验室完成.材料:按照预定参数进行气流-高压静电纺丝,分别制备气电纺纯聚羟基丁酸酯纤维支架及含质量分数为10%纳米羟基磷灰石的纳米羟基磷灰石,聚羟基丁酸酯复合纤维支架.方法:将大鼠骨髓基质细胞接种于纳米羟基磷灰石/聚羟基丁酸酯纳米纤维支架后进行体外培养(实验组),以接种于气电纺纯聚羟基丁酸酯纳米纤维支架为对照组,接种于细胞培养板为空白对照组.主要观察指标:通过RT-PCR检测连续培养14 d后细胞成骨分化标志物碱性磷酸酶、I型胶原和骨钙素的mRNA表达.结果:各组均能检测到3种成骨标志物碱性磷酸酶、I型胶原和骨钙素的mRNA表达.通过Quantity One软件分析计算目的条带吸光度值与内参β-actin条带吸光度值的比值,可以发现3种目的基因在实验组具有最高表达水平,其次为对照组,空白对照组的表达明显最弱.结论:气电纺纳米羟基磷灰石,聚羟基丁酸酯复合纤维支架可促进大鼠骨髓基质细胞成骨分化,证实其在体外具有优良的生物活性.     

透明质酸改性壳聚糖-胶原-羟基磷灰石复合支架力学特性及成骨细胞的增殖(英文)

背景:组织工程中,种子细胞需依赖于细胞外基质的存在才能发挥功能。因此支架材料的选择具有重大意义。目的:制备一种新型改性壳聚糖-胶原-羟基磷灰石复合支架,优化易于细胞黏附的组织工程支架材料工艺。方法:壳聚糖与透明质酸进行交联,红外和差示扫描量热图谱检测其结构;改性壳聚糖与胶原按1:2,1:1和2:1制备3种改性壳聚糖-胶原-羟基磷灰石复合支架,将复合支架与成骨细胞MC3T3-E1联合培养,CCK-8法检测增殖,绘制生长曲线。结果与结论:透明质酸和壳聚糖以酰胺键形成交联的新化合物,孔径在50～250μm之间,孔隙率随着胶原水平、弹性模量的增加而增加,而密度则减少;增加胶原的含量在细胞联合培养初期有利于细胞对支架的黏附和增殖,但从第10天开始,3种样品中细胞数量相差不大,均出现平台期;苏木精-伊红染色发现成骨细胞在培养初期沿着支架材料内部空隙贴壁生长,随着培养天数的增加,贴壁细胞呈集落样生长,可明显看到细胞间连接。说明透明质酸改性壳聚糖/胶原/纳米羟基磷灰石复合材料可以作为骨支架材料供成骨细胞黏附、增殖,其中胶原与壳聚糖的体积比为1:1为较优配比。     

Clinical usefulness of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity determination to evaluate bone turnover.

The study was carried out to evaluate the clinical validity and usefulness of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity determined using an improved spectrophotometric assay. Enzyme activity was measured in 84 normal subjects and in 109 patients with common metabolic bone diseases. Mean values of serum TRAP activity in male subjects (n = 19; 10.4 +/- 2.15 U l-1) were not significantly different from those found in female subjects (n = 65; 10.8 +/- 1.8 U l-1). In the latter group mean values were significantly raised in post-menopausal subjects (10.5 +/- 2.0 U l-1; p less than 0.01) compared with mean values in pre-menopausal women (8.45 +/- 1.8 U l-1). We found a significant inverse correlation between serum TRAP activity values and bone mineral density (BMD) measured both at an ultradistal radial point (n = 33, r = -0.506; p less than 0.01), and at the lumbar spine (n = 57, r = -0.261; p less than 0.05). Mean serum TRAP activity values in patients with metabolic bone diseases were: primary hyperparathyroidism, n = 30: 14.2 +/- 4.89 U l-1, p less than 0.001 vs normal subjects; chronic maintenance haemodialysis, n = 19: 17.4 +/- 6.7, p less than 0.001; metastatic cancer, n = 13: 21.2 +/- 6.3, p less than 0.001; post-surgical hypoparathyroidism, n = 10: 9.9 +/- 1.8, NS; involutional osteoporosis, n = 20: 12.5 +/- 2.3 p less than 0.001; Paget's disease, n = 10: 16.8 +/- 3.5, p less than 0.001; osteomalacia, n = 7: 19.5 +/- 3.31, p less than 0.001.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

新型多孔β-磷酸三钙作为骨组织工程支架材料的评价

背景: 新型多孔β-磷酸三钙是采用适当配方和独特工艺制成,其气孔率(75±10)%,球型孔>80%,微孔<20%,孔与孔的沟通率达100%,力学强度>2MPa.目的: 评价新型多孔β-磷酸三钙作为骨组织工程支架材料的应用效果.设计、时间及地点: 对比观察实验,于200-07/2006-03在南方医科大学组织工程实验室完成.材料: 6月龄新西兰大白兔12只,制备左侧桡骨1.5cm大段骨与骨膜缺损.多孔β-磷酸三钙为法国bio-lu公司产品.方法: 将兔骨髓间充质干细胞诱导为成骨细胞,与β-磷酸三钙复合培养,倒置相差显微镜和扫描电镜下观察细胞的生长情况,MTT法测定细胞增殖情况判断其细胞相容性.通过不同含量的β-磷酸三钙浸提液对细胞增殖的影响检验其细胞毒性.主要观察指标: 对β-磷酸三钙进行细胞相容性与细胞毒性检测.术后2,6,12周分别取材进行组织学检查,放射性核素骨扫描测定,X射线片检查,观察骨缺损部位的修复情况.结果: 新型多孔β-磷酸三钙细胞黏附性好,细胞毒性为0级.组织学、影像学和放射性核素骨扫描显示能够修复兔桡骨的大段骨缺损,且体内降解速率与骨的形成速率一致.结论: 新型多孔β-磷酸三钙是一种细胞相容性好的骨组织工程支架材料,修复兔桡骨大段骨缺损的效果良好.     

透明质酸改性壳聚糖-胶原-羟基磷灰石复合支架力学特性及成骨细胞的增殖（英文）

背景：组织工程中,种子细胞需依赖于细胞外基质的存在才能发挥功能。因此支架材料的选择具有重大意义。目的：制备一种新型改性壳聚糖-胶原-羟基磷灰石复合支架,优化易于细胞黏附的组织工程支架材料工艺。方法：壳聚糖与透明质酸进行交联,红外和差示扫描量热图谱检测其结构;改性壳聚糖与胶原按1：2,1：1和2：1制备3种改性壳聚糖-胶原-羟基磷灰石复合支架,将复合支架与成骨细胞MC3T3-E1联合培养,CCK-8法检测增殖,绘制生长曲线。结果与结论：透明质酸和壳聚糖以酰胺键形成交联的新化合物,孔径在50～250μm之间,孔隙率随着胶原水平、弹性模量的增加而增加,而密度则减少;增加胶原的含量在细胞联合培养初期有利于细胞对支架的黏附和增殖,但从第10天开始,3种样品中细胞数量相差不大,均出现平台期;苏木精-伊红染色发现成骨细胞在培养初期沿着支架材料内部空隙贴壁生长,随着培养天数的增加,贴壁细胞呈集落样生长,可明显看到细胞间连接。说明透明质酸改性壳聚糖/胶原/纳米羟基磷灰石复合材料可以作为骨支架材料供成骨细胞黏附、增殖,其中胶原与壳聚糖的体积比为1：1为较优配比。     

Diffusion of levofloxacin into bone and synovial tissues

OBJECTIVES: The degree of penetration of an antibiotic into the infected site is an important determinant of therapeutic success. Levofloxacin is widely used in the treatment of serious infections. However, there are only few studies concerning its diffusion into bone tissue and none concerning its diffusion into synovial tissue. Our objective was to quantify levofloxacin bone and synovial tissue penetration and to compare our data with the breakpoint for susceptible organisms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an open-label study, 12 subjects who were undergoing elective total hip replacement received a single, parenteral, 500 mg dose of levofloxacin. Plasma, cortical and cancellous bone, and synovial tissue samples were collected a mean of 1.2 h later and analysed by a validated HPLC method. RESULTS: The mean +/- S.D. plasma concentration of levofloxacin at the time of bone removal was 7.5 +/- 1.3 mg/L. The levofloxacin concentrations were 7.4 +/- 2.2 mg/kg in cancellous bone tissue and 3.9 +/- 1.2 mg/kg in cortical bone tissue. The levofloxacin concentration was 8.9 +/- 2.1 mg/kg in synovial tissue. The mean +/- S.D. ratios of levofloxacin concentration in bone and plasma (bone/plasma) were 1.0 +/- 0.4 for cancellous bone tissue and 0.5 +/- 0.1 for cortical bone tissue. The ratio of levofloxacin concentration in synovial tissue and plasma (synovial tissue/plasma) was 1.2 +/- 0.4. CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of levofloxacin achieved in cancellous and cortical bone tissue and in synovial tissue are greater than the breakpoint for susceptible organisms, which is < or =2 mg/L.     

Effects of polyethylene glycol content on the properties of a silk fibroin/nano-hydroxyapatite/polyethylene glycol electrospun scaffold

To study the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) content on the mechanical properties and degradation of silk fibroin, nano-hydroxyapatite, and PEG (SF/nHAP/PEG) electrospun scaffolds, and according to the PEG ratio in the scaffold (SF : nHAP : PEG), test groups were divided as follows: PEG-0 (10 : 2), PEG-0.5 (10 : 2 : 0.5), PEG-1 (10 : 2 : 1), and PEG-2 (10 : 2 : 2). A series of tests to determine the mechanical properties, degradation rates, and osteogenic characteristics was undertaken. PEG facilitated SF degradation (PEG-1 > PEG-0.5 > PEG-0 > PEG-2), and the mass loss of the scaffolds in PEG-1 was more than 30%, while in PEG-2 it was less than 20% after 8 days (P < 0.05). The addition of PEG strengthened the mechanical properties of the scaffold (PEG-1 > PEG-2 > PEG-0.5 > PEG-0), as the Young''s modulus increased from 41.72 ± 3.40 MPa for PEG-0 to 76.12 ± 3.73 MPa for PEG-1 (P < 0.05). PEG was favorable for the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs (PEG-0.5 > PEG-1 > PEG-2 > PEG-0). The enhancements were attributable to the increased hydrophilicity and nHAP dispersion, as well as to the secondary structure transformation of SF. The PEG content was deemed to be optimal when the SF/nHAP/PEG ratio was equal to 10 : 2 : 1.

The modification of the mechanical and degradation properties of a SF scaffold combined with PEG and nHAP is demonstrated.     

Comparison of the effect of GIP and GLP-1 (7–36amide) on insulin release from rat pancreatic islets

After ingestion of glucose both GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1(7-36amide) (glucagon-like polypeptide-1, 7-36amide) may play a physiological role in augmenting insulin release. Their insulinotropic effect was compared in isolated rat islets after 24-h maintenance in tissue culture (11 mmol l-1 glucose). Ten islets per vial were then incubated in Krebs-Ringer-Hepes buffer for 30 min; insulin was measured radioimmunologically. Both hormones were always compared in the same experiment. At 16.7 mmol l-1 glucose both GIP and GLP-1(7-36amide) 2 x 10(-10) mol l-1 significantly increased insulin release; 10(-10) mol l-1 of either hormone had no significant effect. The response at 10(-9) and 10(-8) mol l-1 was similar for both; at 4 x 10(-10) mol l-1 GLP-1(7-36amide), however, was clearly more effective than GIP. At low glucose (2.8 or 5.0 mol l-1) no significant differences were found. A concentration of 10(-8) mol l-1 of both hormones was slightly stimulatory. At 8.3 mmol l-1 glucose, 10(-9) mol l-1 GLP-1(7-36amide) was 60% more effective than GIP (4.8 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.0 +/- 0.4, n = 13, P less than 0.005), the response to 10(-8) mol l-1 was similar. These data show comparable effects of high concentrations of GIP and GLP-1(7-36amide) on glucose-induced insulin release; at presumably physiological concentrations, however, GLP-1(7-36amide) was clearly more effective. The combination of the two peptides was not more than additive, suggesting that they act via the same final mechanism.     

Effects of 2-(3-methyl-cinnamyl-hydrazono)-propionate on fatty acid and glucose oxidation in the isolated rat diaphragm using 14C-labelled substrates. Hydrazonopropionic acids, a new class of hypoglycaemic substances, VIII

The influence of 2-(3-methyl-cinnamyl-hydrazono)-propionate on the utilization of various substrates in isolated rat hemidiaphragms was investigated in comparison with other hypoglycaemic compounds. The effect of 2-(3-methyl-cinnamyl-hydrazono)-propionate was concentration-dependent. At a concentration of 0.5 mmol/l 2-(3-methyl-cinnamyl-hydrazono)-propionate, glucose utilization increased from 0.276 +/- 0.043 mumol.g-1.l-1 to 0.894 +/- 0.303 mumol.g-1.l-1 (p less than 0.05). Pyruvate and lactate utilization were stimulated to a lesser extent, while acetate utilization remained nearly constant. At a concentration of 2 mmol/l 2-(3-methyl-cinnamyl-hydrazono)-propionate, the oxidation of palmitate decreased from 0.214 +/- 0.017 mumol.g-1.l-1 to 0.060 +/- 0.005 mumol.g-1.l-1, while the oxidation of octanoate was not decreased. These findings point to a stimulation of the glycolytic flux by inhibition of long-chain fatty acid oxidation.     

Peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity in healthy elderly human subjects

Insulin resistance has been reported in normal ageing but discrepancies between such studies may be related to compounding factors such as body composition and exercise patterns. We employed a two-step hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp to assess peripheral and hepatic tissue insulin sensitivity and glucose recycling in 13 elderly (E) and 14 young (Y) healthy subjects controlling for the above factors. There was no difference in basal hepatic glucose production (E: 2.36 +/- 0.06, Y: 2.47 +/- 0.1 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.4). At step 1 (insulin infusion 15 mU kg-1 h-1) glucose turnover was similar (E: 2.65 +/- 0.13, Y: 2.88 +/- 0.22 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.4) but hepatic glucose production was lower in the elderly group (0.20 +/- 0.16 vs 0.64 +/- 0.10 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.03). At step 2 (insulin infusion 50 mU kg-1 h-1) glucose turnover was similar (E: 7.60 +/- 0.24, Y: 8.05 +/- 0.34 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.3) and hepatic glucose production was equal but negative (E: -1.35 +/- 0.18, Y: -1.34 +/- 0.22 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.9). Glucose recycling did not differ between the groups at any stage. Similar serum insulin levels were achieved in both groups at each step. Decreased glucose tolerance was confirmed in E with a higher 2 h blood glucose after an OGTT (5.3 +/- 0.4 vs 4.1 +/- 0.3 mmol l-1; P = 0.03) but incremental insulin response was similar (E: 3236 +/- 289, Y: 3586 +/- 463 mU l-1 min-1; P = 0.5). We conclude that changes in hepatic tissue insulin sensitivity do not cause the deterioration in glucose tolerance observed with age. A small reduction in both peripheral tissue insulin sensitivity and late insulin secretion may be responsible.