Fabrication of a Layered Microstructured Polymeric Microspheres as a Cell Carrier for Nucleus Pulposus Regeneration

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of nanostructured 3D poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) constructs, which are loaded with dexamethasone (DEX) and growth factor embedded hepaiin/poly(L-lysine) nanoparticles by a layer-by-layer system, to serve as an effective scaffold for nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue engineering. Our results demonstrated that the microsphere constructs were capable of simultaneously releasing basic fibroblast growth factor and DEX with approximately zero-order kinetics. The dual bead microspheres showed no cytotoxicity, and promoted the proliferation of the rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) by lactate dehydrogenase assay and CCK-8 assay. After 4 weeks of culture in vitro, the rMSCs- scaffold hybrids contained significantly higher levels of sulfated GAG/DNA and type-II collagen than the control samples. Moreover, quantity real-time PCR analysis revealed that the expression of disc-matrix proteins, including type-II collagen, aggrecan and versican, in the rMSCs-scaffold hybrids was significantly higher than the control group, whereas the expression of osteogenic differentiation marker type-I collagen was decreased. Taken together, these data indicate that the heparin bound bFGF-coated and DEX-loaded PLGA microsphere constructs is an effective bioactive scaffold for the regeneration of NP tissue.     

复合三联抗结核药聚乳酸-羟基乙酸缓释微球的制备及体外释药特性

目的 :制备复合异烟肼(H)、利福平(R)、吡嗪酰胺(Z)的聚乳酸-羟基乙酸(HRZ/PLGA)缓释微球,观察其理化性质和体外缓释特性。方法:以PLGA(450mg)为载体,避光条件下称取H(40mg)、R(60mg)、Z(125mg),采用复乳-溶剂挥发法制备HRZ/PLGA缓释微球,应用扫描电镜观察微球的形态特征;应用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定其载药量、包封率;采用溶出法、HPLC于3h、6h、12h、1d、2d、3d、6d、9d、12d、15d、20d、25d、30d、40d、50d测定H、R、Z三种药物的浓度,观察其是否均大于10倍最低抑菌浓度(MIC),计算其日均释药率、累计释药率。结果:HRZ/PLGA微球在电镜下观察呈圆球形,平均粒径为10.3±4.7μm;H、R、Z三种药物的载药量分别为(18.02±0.36)%、(22.46±0.24)%、(21.68±0.37)%,包封率分别为(54.79±1.13)%、(72.35±0.39)%、(67.21±0.68)%;体外缓释试验显示微球缓释前12d左右,三种药物的累计缓释度均超过了50%,日均释药率分别为5.05%、4.89%、6.86%;第12天后三药的缓释基本趋于稳定,日均释药率分别为0.17%、0.26%、0.16%;三种药物缓释到50d时均大于10倍MIC。结论:HRZ/PLGA微球具有优良的载药及药物缓释效果,是一种理想的复合抗结核药物缓释系统。     

脑源性神经营养因子缓释微球对周围神经损伤大鼠的神经保护作用

目的 观察脑源性营养因子缓释微球(BDNF-PLGA缓释微球)对大鼠周围神经损伤的保护作用。方法 采用复乳化溶剂挥发法制备BDNF-PLGA缓释微球。40只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、BDNF组和BDNF-PLGA缓释微球组;除假手术外,其它30只SD大鼠,制备坐骨神经钳夹损伤模型。术后神经损伤局部注射BDNF-PLGA缓释微球,观察大鼠的大体形态、步态、关节活动等情况;术后4周进行神经行为学评分,检查神经传导速度(NCV)、波幅、潜伏期和复合肌肉动作电位(CMAP)的幅度,以及组织病理学观察。结果 BDNF-PLGA缓释微球组明显改善坐骨神经损伤大鼠的步态、关节活动等一般状况。BDNF-PLGA缓释微球可有效地改善大鼠损伤神经功能,到第4周时已基本恢复正常,对神经功能恢复明显快于BDNF组。与模型组比较,BDNF-PLGA缓释微球组显著提高大鼠NCV,增大电位波幅,缩短潜伏期(P<0.01)。术后4周,BDNF-PLGA缓释微球组的大鼠坐骨神经NCV、波幅和潜伏期,CMAP波幅及恢复率均显著优于BDNF组。BDNF-PLGA缓释微球明显改善坐骨神经髓鞘和轴突结构破坏,髓神经纤维的髓鞘肿胀、碎裂,神经纤维中的空泡及空泡变性等组织病理学改变。结论 BDNF-PLGA缓释微球对周围神经损伤具有显著的保护作用。     

葫芦素B-聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物载药纳米粒的构建与药效学评价

目的 以聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物（PLGA）作为纳米制剂载体材料将葫芦素B制备成纳米粒,并考察其对HepG2肝癌细胞的抑制效果。方法 使用乳化溶剂蒸发法制备葫芦素B-PLGA载药纳米粒,以PLGA浓度（X₁）、PVA浓度（X₂）和药物浓度（X₃）作为考察因素,以载药纳米粒的粒径大小（Y₁）和包封率（Y₂）作为评价指标,应用中心复合设计-效应面法优化葫芦素B-PLGA载药纳米粒处方;测定了纳米粒的粒径分布和Zeta电位值,通过透射电镜观察其微观形态,并考察了葫芦素B-PLGA载药纳米粒的体外药物释放特性;比较了葫芦素B与葫芦素B-PLGA载药纳米粒对HepG2肝癌细胞的抑制效果。结果 葫芦素B-PLGA载药纳米粒的最优处方组成为：PLGA浓度为9.0%,PVA浓度为2.0%,药物浓度为4.5%,制备的纳米粒粒径为（145.4±15.8） nm,Zeta电位值为（-7.6±0.8） mV;透射电镜下可观察到纳米粒表面光滑,分布均匀;葫芦素B-PLGA载药纳米粒释药前期出现突释,后期平缓,48 h药物释放达到86%;葫芦素B-PLGA载药纳米粒对HepG2肝癌细胞的抑制作用显著高于葫芦素B。结论 葫芦素B-PLGA载药纳米粒可延缓药物释放,提高对HepG2肝癌细胞的抑制活性,为进一步临床研究奠定实验基础。     

Calcium phosphate/poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite bone substitute materials: evaluation of temporal degradation and bone ingrowth in a rat critical-sized cranial defect

Objectives: The present study aimed to provide temporal information on material degradation and bone formation using composite (C) bone defect filler materials consisting of calcium phosphate cement (CaP) and poly(d ,l ‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (20 or 30 wt%) in rat critical‐sized cranial defects. Materials and methods: Critical‐sized bicortical cranial defects were created in 48 rats and CaP/PLGA cement composites were implanted for 4, 8 and 12 weeks (n=8). Results: Histological analysis of the retrieved specimens revealed that implant degradation was significantly faster for C30% (remaining implant up to 89.4 ± 4.4% at 12 weeks) compared with C20% (remaining implant upto 94.8 ± 2.1% at 12 weeks), albeit that overall degradation was limited. Although bone formation was limited in both experimental groups (upto 685765.9 μm² for C20% vs. 917603.3 μm² for C30%), C30% showed a significant temporal increase of total bone formation. The percentage of defect bridging was comparable for C20% and C30% at all implantation periods (range 40 ± 25.5% at week 4 to 65 ± 20% at week 12 for C20%; range 51.8 ± 7.8% at week 4 to 70.5 ± 16.2% at week 12 for C30%). Conclusion: The amount of PLGA‐microparticles in the CaP/PLGA cement composites demonstrated acceleration of material degradation, while bone formation was found not to be influenced. Further optimization of the composite material is necessary to increase control over degradation and tissue ingrowth. To cite this article :
van de Watering FCJ, van den Beucken JJJP, Walboomers XF, Jansen JA. Calcium phosphate/poly(d ,l ‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) composite bone substitute materials: evaluation of temporal degradation and bone ingrowth in a rat critical‐sized cranial defect.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 23 , 2012; 151–159.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2011.02218.x     

Dual release of dexamethasone and TGF-β3 from polymeric microspheres for stem cell matrix accumulation in a rat disc degeneration model

Low back pain is frequently caused by nucleus pulposus (NP) degeneration. Tissue engineering is a powerful therapeutic strategy which could restore the normal biomechanical motion of the human spine. Previously we reported that a new nanostructured three-dimensional poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microsphere, which is loaded with dexamethasone and growth factor embedded heparin/poly(l-lysine) nanoparticles via a layer-by-layer system, was an effective cell carrier in vitro for NP tissue engineering. This study aimed to investigate whether the implantation of adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC)-seeded PLGA microspheres into the rat intervertebral disc could regenerate the degenerated disc. Changes in disc height by plain radiograph, T2-weighted signal intensity in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), histology, immunohistochemistry and matrix-associated gene expression were evaluated in normal controls (NCs) (without operations), a degeneration control (DC) group (with needle puncture, injected only with Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium), a PLGA microspheres (PMs) treatment group (with needle puncture, PLGA microspheres only injection), and PLGA microspheres loaded with ADSCs treatment (PMA) group (with needle puncture, PLGA microspheres loaded with ADSC injection) for a 24-week period. The results showed that at 24 weeks post-transplantation, the PM and PMA groups regained disc height values of ～63% and 76% and MRI signal intensities of ～47% and 76%, respectively, compared to the NC group. Biochemistry, immunohistochemistry and gene expression analysis also indicated the restoration of proteoglycan accumulation in the discs of the PM and PMA groups. However, there was almost no restoration of proteoglycan accumulation in the discs of the DC group compared with the PM and PMA groups. Taken together, these data suggest that ADSC-seeded PLGA microspheres could partly regenerate the degenerated disc in vivo after implantation into the rat degenerative intervertebral disc.     

Development and characterization of oxaceprol-loaded poly-lactide-co-glycolide nanoparticles for the treatment of osteoarthritis

Oxaceprol is well-defined therapeutic agent as an atypical inhibitor of inflammation in osteoarthritis. In the present study, we aimed to develop and characterize oxaceprol-loaded poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles for intra-articular administration in osteoarthritis. PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. Meanwhile, a straightforward and generally applicable high performance liquid chromatography method was developed, and validated for the first time for the quantification of oxaceprol. To examine the drug carrying capacity of nanoparticles, varying amount of oxaceprol was entrapped into a constant amount of polymer matrix. Moreover, the efficacy of drug amount on nanoparticle characteristics such as particle size, zeta potential, morphology, drug entrapment, and in vitro drug release was investigated. Nanoparticle sizes were between 229 and 509 nm for different amount of oxaceprol with spherical smooth morphology. Encapsulation efficiency ranged between 39.73 and 63.83% by decreasing oxaceprol amount. The results of Fourier transform infrared and DSC showed absence of interaction between oxaceprol and PLGA. The in vitro drug release from these nanoparticles showed a sustained release of oxaceprol over 30 days. According to cell culture studies, oxaceprol-loaded nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity with high biocompatibility. This study was the first step of developing an intra-articular system in the treatment of osteoarthritis for the controlled release of oxaceprol. Our findings showed that these nanoparticles can be beneficial for an effective treatment of osteoarthritis avoiding side effects associated with oral administration.