Hydroxyapatite-bioglass nanocomposites: Structural, mechanical, and biological aspects.

This research work focuses on the fabrication and study of a series of nanocomposites consisting of two types of hydroxyapatite (HA), obtained by precipitate (HAP) and sol-gel (HAG) methods, and a boro-silico-phosphate bioglass. The microstructure and chemical, mechanical, and biological properties as functions of three factors, namely (i) the type of hydroxyapatite, (ii) glass content, and (iii) sintering temperature, were investigated. It was found that all of these factors affect the final composition and microstructure, especially, porosity, which shows significantly lower values for HAP-based composites than for HAG-based ones and higher values for higher glass content. This, in turn, has an impact on the microhardness, which exhibits a strong correlation with porosity, as well as on the mineralization capability and cell viability due to the different dissolution rate.

A Pilot Animal Study Aimed at Assessing the Mechanical Quality of Regenerated Alveolar Bone.

PURPOSE: Bone regeneration procedures are often evaluated based on biologic aspects only. As regenerated bone also has to ensure primary implant stability, the goal of this study was to determine the mechanical quality of regenerated bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six adult minipigs were allocated for this experiment with four mandibular study sites each established following tooth removal. Two different types of bovine bone mineral as well as autogenous bone were used for augmenting three-walled defects, while native bone served as the control. Implants were placed after 12, 18, and 24 weeks of healing, and bone quality was determined using intraoperative compressive testing (BoneProbe), insertion torque measurements, and resonance frequency analysis. The mandibles were then harvested for determining bone mineral density (BMD) and bone-to-implant contact (BIC). Statistical analysis was based on two-way analysis of variance of aligned rank transformed data and Spearman's rank correlation tests (α = .05). RESULTS: The effects of the factors healing time and material on the parameters tested were too small to be significant (P ranging from .34 to .98). Weak correlations were observed for implant insertion torque with BoneProbe measurements in the cortical (0.481; P = .032) and in the trabecular area (0.639; P = .002). BoneProbe measurements in the trabecular part and in the cortical part also correlated with each other (0.477; P = .035). CONCLUSION: While differences may exist between bone regenerated using different biomaterials with respect to biologic behavior, differences in the mechanical properties determining primary implant stability seem to be minor. Implant insertion torque measurements appear to be a reliable tool for determining bone quality if only one specific implant type is considered.

Mesenchymal stem cells proliferation and remote manipulation upon exposure to magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles.

In this paper, we report on spatial redistribution of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells loaded with magnetic nanoparticles under the influence of continuously applied magnetic field. Semiconductor nanoparticles were synthesized by epitaxial growth of a GaN thin layer on magnetic sacrificial core consisting of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles. Different quantities of nanoparticles were incubated in vitro with mesenchymal stem cells. High density of nanoparticles (50 µg/ml) leads to a decrease in the number of cells during incubation, while the density of nanoparticles as low as 10 µg/ml is enough to drag cells in culture and rearrange them according to the spatial distribution of the magnetic field intensity.

Vertical osteoconductive characteristics of titanium implants with calcium-phosphate-coated surfaces - a pilot study in rabbits.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoconductive characteristics of different implant surface coatings are in the focus of current interest. The aim of the present study was to compare the vertical osteoconductivity at the implant shoulder of supracrestal inserted calcium-phosphate coated implants (SLA-CaP) with conventional sand-blasted/acid-etched (SLA) implants in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SLA-CaP and SLA implants were inserted bilaterally in the mandible of four rabbits in a split-mouth design. The implants were placed 2 mm supracrestal. After 3 weeks, at the left and right implant shoulder, the percentage of linear bone fill (PLF) as well as bone-implant contact (BIC-D) were determined. RESULTS: After 3 weeks, newly formed woven bone could be found at the shoulder of the most of both surface-treated implants (75%). PLF was significantly higher in SLA-CaP implants (11.2% vs. 46.5%; n = 8, p = .008). BIC-D was significantly increased in the SLA-CaP implants (13.0% vs. 71.4%; n = 8, p < .001) as well. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show for the first time that calcium-phosphate coated surfaces on supracrestal inserted implants have vertical osteoconductive characteristics and increase the bone-implant contact at the implant shoulder significantly in a rabbit model. In clinical long-term settings, these implants may contribute to a better vertical bone height.

Effect of intraoperative bone quality testing on bone healing and osseointegration of dental implants.

PURPOSE: A novel diagnostic device (BoneProbe) for evaluating alveolar bone quality during dental implant surgery has recently been developed. The underlying measurement principle is based on a compressive test of bone, which may subsequently affect bone healing and osseointegration of dental implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six implant sites each were created in the rear left tibia of four sheep and used for bone quality testing with the BoneProbe, while empty osteotomies and implants placed without testing served as controls. Maximum insertion torque and primary implant stability (Osstell) were determined additionally. After 5 and 20 weeks, the animals were sacrificed followed by histomorphometric and microradiographic analysis quantifying bone implant contact (BIC) and bone mineral density (BMD) as parameters. Statistical analysis was conducted applying one-sample t tests, two-sample t tests and Pearson correlation coefficients (α = .05). RESULTS: Implants placed following application of the BoneProbe differed from the control treatments only in one case, where BIC was greater (P = .02) at the control implant after 20 weeks of healing. With the exception of the combinations of Osstell/BoneProbe measurement in trabecular bone (0.29) and Osstell/insertion torque (0.34), good correlations of all clinically conducted measurements were found. CONCLUSION: Based on the results obtained, it appears that intraoperative testing of bone quality applying the BoneProbe does not jeopardize bone healing and osseointegration of dental implants.

PSTPIP2 deficiency in mice causes osteopenia and increased differentiation of multipotent myeloid precursors into osteoclasts.

Missense mutations that reduce or abrogate myeloid cell expression of the F-BAR domain protein, proline serine threonine phosphatase-interacting protein 2 (PSTPIP2), lead to autoinflammatory disease involving extramedullary hematopoiesis, skin and bone lesions. However, little is known about how PSTPIP2 regulates osteoclast development. Here we examined how PSTPIP2 deficiency causes osteopenia and bone lesions, using the mouse PSTPIP2 mutations, cmo, which fails to express PSTPIP2 and Lupo, in which PSTPIP2 is dysfunctional. In both models, serum levels of the pro-osteoclastogenic factor, MIP-1α, were elevated and CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R)-dependent production of MIP-1α by macrophages was increased. Treatment of cmo mice with a dual specificity CSF-1R and c-Kit inhibitor, PLX3397, decreased circulating MIP-1α and ameliorated the extramedullary hematopoiesis, inflammation, and osteopenia, demonstrating that aberrant myelopoiesis drives disease. Purified osteoclast precursors from PSTPIP2-deficient mice exhibit increased osteoclastogenesis in vitro and were used to probe the structural requirements for PSTPIP2 suppression of osteoclast development. PSTPIP2 tyrosine phosphorylation and a functional F-BAR domain were essential for PSTPIP2 inhibition of TRAP expression and osteoclast precursor fusion, whereas interaction with PEST-type phosphatases was only required for suppression of TRAP expression. Thus, PSTPIP2 acts as a negative feedback regulator of CSF-1R signaling to suppress inflammation and osteoclastogenesis.