Next-generation resorbable polymer scaffolds with surface-precipitated calcium phosphate coatings.

Next-generation synthetic bone graft therapies will most likely be composed of resorbable polymers in combination with bioactive components. In this article, we continue our exploration of E1001(1k), a tyrosine-derived polycarbonate, as an orthopedic implant material. Specifically, we use E1001(1k), which is degradable, nontoxic, and osteoconductive, to fabricate porous bone regeneration scaffolds that were enhanced by two different types of calcium phosphate (CP) coatings: in one case, pure dicalcium phosphate dihydrate was precipitated on the scaffold surface and throughout its porous structure (E1001(1k) + CP). In the other case, bone matrix minerals (BMM) such as zinc, manganese and fluoride were co-precipitated within the dicalcium phosphate dihydrate coating (E1001(1k) + BMM). These scaffold compositions were compared against each other and against ChronOS (Synthes USA, West Chester, PA, USA), a clinically used bone graft substitute (BGS), which served as the positive control in our experimental design. This BGS is composed of poly(lactide co-ε-caprolactone) and beta-tricalcium phosphate. We used the established rabbit calvaria critical-sized defect model to determine bone regeneration within the defect for each of the three scaffold compositions. New bone formation was determined after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks by micro-computerized tomography (µCT) and histology. The experimental tyrosine-derived polycarbonate, enhanced with dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, E1001(1k) + CP, supported significant bone formation within the defects and was superior to the same scaffold containing a mix of BMM, E1001(1k) + BMM. The comparison with the commercially available BGS was complicated by the large variability in bone formation observed for the laboratory preparations of E1001(1k) scaffolds. At all time points, there was a trend for E1001(1k) + CP to be superior to the commercial BGS. However, only at the 6-week time point did this trend reach statistical significance. Detailed analysis of the µCT data suggested an increase in bone formation from 2 through 12 weeks in implant sites treated with E1001(1k) + CP. At 2 and 4 weeks post-implantation, bone formation occurred at the interface where the E1001(1k) + CP scaffold was in contact with the bone borders of the implant site. Thereafter, during weeks 6, 8 and 12 bone formation progressed throughout the E1001(1k) + CP test implants. This trend was not observed with E1001(1k) + BMM scaffolds or the clinically used BGS. Our results suggest that E1001(1k) + CP should be tested further for osteoregenerative applications.

Pro-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory regulation by functional peptides loaded in polymeric implants for soft tissue regeneration.

Inflammation and angiogenesis are inevitable in vivo responses to biomaterial implants. Continuous progress has been made in biomaterial design to improve tissue interactions with an implant by either reducing inflammation or promoting angiogenesis. However, it has become increasingly clear that the physiological processes of inflammation and angiogenesis are interconnected through various molecular mechanisms. Hence, there is an unmet need for engineering functional tissues by simultaneous activation of pro-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory responses to biomaterial implants. In this work, the modulus and fibrinogen adsorption of porous scaffolds were tuned to meet the requirements (i.e., ~100 kPa and ~10 nm, respectively), for soft tissue regeneration by employing tyrosine-derived combinatorial polymers with polyethylene glycol crosslinkers. Two types of functional peptides (i.e., pro-angiogenic laminin-derived C16 and anti-inflammatory thymosin ß4-derived Ac-SDKP) were loaded in porous scaffolds through collagen gel embedding so that peptides were released in a controlled fashion, mimicking degradation of the extracellular matrix. The results from (1) in vitro coculture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human blood-derived macrophages and (2) in vivo subcutaneous implantation revealed the directly proportional relationship between angiogenic activities (i.e., tubulogenesis and perfusion capacity) and inflammatory activities (i.e., phagocytosis and F4/80 expression) upon treatment with either type of peptide. Interestingly, cotreatment with both types of peptides upregulated the angiogenic responses, while downregulating the inflammatory responses. Also, anti-inflammatory Ac-SDKP peptides reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., interleukin [IL]-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) even when treated in combination with pro-angiogenic C16 peptides. In addition to independent regulation of angiogenesis and inflammation, this study suggests a promising approach to improve soft tissue regeneration (e.g., blood vessel and heart muscle) when inflammatory diseases (e.g., ischemic tissue fibrosis and atherosclerosis) limit the regeneration process.

Surface instabilities in ultrathin, cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) coatings.

Near-the-surface instabilities with a cusplike morphology were observed in ultrathin photo-cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) coatings upon swelling in water. The characteristic wavelength of the instability was approximately 25 times the dry thickness and scaled linearly with coating thickness between 30 and 1200 nm. Above 1200 nm, slippage of the coating along the confining substrate led to reticulated patterns with a much larger wavelength. To help interpret the origin of the instability, the coatings were also exposed to a solvent slightly worse than water (acetone) and a solvent slightly better than water (isopropanol). In all cases, the characteristic wavelength scaled linearly with respect to the swelling induced by each solvent. Both water and isopropanol produced well-defined cusps or folds in the gel surface, while acetone produced semiordered blisters that grew into one another. The features produced in acetone may be a consequence of swelling being close to the threshold value for the loss of planar stability. Through the use of a first-order linear perturbation of the Flory-Rehner model, it is shown that the emergence of a characteristic wavelength is consistent with an inhomogeneous distribution of solvent that results from diffusion of solvent into a dry coating.