Analysis of cell-biomaterial interaction through cellular bridge formation in the interface between hGMSCs and CaP bioceramics.

The combination of biomaterials and stem cells for clinical applications constitute a great challenge in bone tissue engineering. Hence, cellular networks derived from cells-biomaterials crosstalk have a profound influence on cell behaviour and communication, preceding proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro cellular networks derived from human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (hGMSCs) and calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramic interaction. Biological performance of CaP bioceramic and hGMSCs interaction was evaluated through cell adhesion and distribution, cellular proliferation, and potential osteogenic differentiation, at three different times: 5 h, 1 week and 4 weeks. Results confirmed that hGMSCs met the required MSCs criteria while displaying osteogenic differentiaton capacities. We found a significant increase of cellular numbers and proliferation levels. Also, protein and mRNA OPN expression were upregulated in cells cultured with CaP bioceramic by day 21, suggesting an osteoinductible effect of the CaP bioceramic on hGMSCs. Remarkably, CaP bioceramic aggregations were obtained through hGMSCs bridges, suggesting the in vitro potential of macrostructures formation. We conclude that hGMSCs and CaP bioceramics with micro and macropores support hGMSC adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Our results suggest that investigations focused on the interface cells-biomaterials are essential for bone tissue regenerative therapies.

Microporosity Clustering Assessment in Calcium Phosphate Bioceramic Particles.

There has been an increase in the application of different biomaterials to repair hard tissues. Within these biomaterials, calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics are suitable candidates, since they can be biocompatible, biodegradable, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive. Moreover, during sintering, bioceramic materials are prone to form micropores and undergo changes in their surface topographical features, which influence cellular physiology and bone ingrowth. In this study, five geometrical properties from the surface of CaP bioceramic particles and their micropores were analyzed by data mining techniques, driven by the research question: what are the geometrical properties of individual micropores in a CaP bioceramic, and how do they relate to each other? The analysis not only shows that it is feasible to determine the existence of micropore clusters, but also to quantify their geometrical properties. As a result, these CaP bioceramic particles present three groups of micropore clusters distinctive by their geometrical properties. Consequently, this new methodological clustering assessment can be applied to advance the knowledge about CaP bioceramics and their role in bone tissue engineering.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics: Implications in Periodontal Bone Regeneration.

In orthopedic medicine, a feasible reconstruction of bone structures remains one of the main challenges both for healthcare and for improvement of patients' quality of life. There is a growing interest in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) medical application, due to their multilineage differentiation potential, and tissue engineering integration to improve bone repair and regeneration. In this review we will describe the main characteristics of MSCs, such as osteogenesis, immunomodulation and antibacterial properties, key parameters to consider during bone repair strategies. Moreover, we describe the properties of calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics, which demonstrate to be useful tools in combination with MSCs, due to their biocompatibility, osseointegration and osteoconduction for bone repair and regeneration. Also, we overview the main characteristics of dental cavity MSCs, which are promising candidates, in combination with CaP bioceramics, for bone regeneration and tissue engineering. The understanding of MSCs biology and their interaction with CaP bioceramics and other biomaterials is critical for orthopedic surgical bone replacement, reconstruction and regeneration, which is an integrative and dynamic medical, scientific and bioengineering field of research and biotechnology.