Co-reporter:Lei Wang;Xing Yang;Weiwei Cao;Chen Shi;Pinghui Zhou;Qiang Li;Fengxuan Han;Junying Sun;Xiaodong Xing
RSC Advances (2011-Present) 2017 vol. 7(Issue 81) pp:51593-51604
Publication Date(Web):2017/11/02
DOI:10.1039/C7RA10203H
Periprosthetic infection represents one of the most devastating complications in orthopedic surgeries. Implants that have both anti-bacterial and bone-forming capability and may function to simultaneously clear infection and repair bone defect, therefore, are highly desirable. In this study, titanium (Ti) substrates were fabricated deposited with different amounts of copper (Cu) using polydopamine (PDA)-based chemical modification technology. In vitro, Ti implants that were treated with PDA and deposited with Cu (Ti-PDA-Cu) showed excellent antibacterial performance against both S. aureus and E. coli compared with pristine Ti. They also markedly promoted adhesion and spreading of MC3T3-E1 cells, implying good biocompatibility of such Ti-PDA-Cu materials. In vivo, results from an animal model of implant-related osteomyelitis clearly demonstrated that Ti-PDA-Cu implants not only effectively inhibited bacterial infection, but also promoted osseointegration at the bone/implant interface. Taken together, these findings show that Ti-PDA-Cu possesses outstanding biocompatibility and antibacterial activity, and are candidate materials for preventing periprosthetic infection.
Co-reporter:Changcheng Gao;Yong Wang;Fengxuan Han;Zhangqin Yuan;Qiang Li;Chen Shi;Weiwei Cao;Pinghui Zhou;Xiaodong Xing
Journal of Materials Chemistry B 2017 vol. 5(Issue 47) pp:9326-9336
Publication Date(Web):2017/12/06
DOI:10.1039/C7TB02436C
Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is a popular orthopaedic implant material due to the outstanding biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, bacterial infections and aseptic loosening during implantation can cause many clinical problems that may eventually lead to implant failure. Therefore, endowing implants with antibacterial functions plays an important role in promoting integration between implants and bone tissue and ultimately, in successful implantation. This study aimed to develop a biocompatible and antibacterial coating for PEEK implants using polydopamine (PDA)-based surface modification technology and subsequent deposition of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (PEEK-PDA-Ag). Formation of Ag nanoparticles was clearly observed on the surface of PEEK-PDA-Ag using scanning electron microscopy. PEEK-PDA-Ag showed low toxicity to MC3T3-E1 cells. It exhibited outstanding antibacterial properties against both S. aureus and E. coli in vitro as well as decent antibacterial performance in vivo. In addition, in vivo studies demonstrated good osseointegration of PEEK-PDA-Ag implants, as shown by micro-CT evaluation and push-out tests. Together, the findings from this study indicate that the facilely prepared PEEK-PDA-Ag substrates possess considerable biocompatibility and antibacterial properties, permitting their potential use as a promising orthopaedic implant material.
Co-reporter:Pinghui Zhou, Li Zhou, Caihong Zhu, Qianping Guo, Guoqing Pan, Huilin Yang, Wenguo Cui and Bin Li
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2016 vol. 4(Issue 12) pp:2171-2178
Publication Date(Web):24 Feb 2016
DOI:10.1039/C6TB00023A
Application of electrospun fibers for the purpose of loading and controlled release of water-soluble drugs remains a challenge due to their low carrying effect as well as quick and unstable drug release. In this study, we have developed a novel nanogel-electrospinning technology through which more stable loading and prolonged release of water-soluble drugs was achieved. In brief, nanogel particles synthesized from a chloroquine (CQ)-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution were prepared and then combined with genipin, a crosslinking agent. The nanogel solution was then crosslinked to prepare an electrospinning solution with an inner mesh structure. Finally, the microfibrous membranes were fabricated by electrospinning the solution. Uniform BSA nanogel particles were wrapped in the fiber membrane and the number of particles increased with the increase of BSA and genipin concentrations. In addition to being loaded within the BSA nanogel particles, CQ was distributed in the fibers as well, which could be clearly identified using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of nanogel-electrospun microfibers were similar to those of microfibers formed through a conventional electrospinning approach. The drug release tests indicated that with the same number of BSA nanogel particles, increased CQ loading resulted in increased initial release of the same. The duration of a single drug release cycle lasted up to 40 days. In conclusion, findings from this study have indicated that nanogel-electrospinning is a convenient and effective technology to achieve controlled long-term release of water-soluble drugs.
Co-reporter:Caihong Zhu, Jun Li, Chen Liu, Pinghui Zhou, Huilin Yang, Bin Li
Acta Biomaterialia 2016 Volume 29() pp:228-238
Publication Date(Web):1 January 2016
DOI:10.1016/j.actbio.2015.09.039
Abstract
Annulus fibrosus (AF) injuries commonly lead to substantial deterioration of the intervertebral disc (IVD). While tissue engineering has recently evolved into a promising approach for AF regeneration, it remains challenging due to the cellular, biochemical, and mechanical heterogeneity of AF tissue. In this study, we explored the use of AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs) to achieve diversified differentiation of cells for AF tissue engineering. Since the differentiation of stem cells relies significantly on the elasticity of the substrate, we synthesized a series of biodegradable poly(ether carbonate urethane)urea (PECUU) materials whose elasticity approximated that of native AF tissue. When AFSCs were cultured on electrospun PECUU fibrous scaffolds, the gene expression of collagen-I in the cells increased with the elasticity of scaffold material, whereas the expression of collagen-II and aggrecan genes showed an opposite trend. At the protein level, the content of collagen-I gradually increased with substrate elasticity, while collagen-II and GAG contents decreased. In addition, the cell traction forces (CTFs) of AFSCs gradually decreased with scaffold elasticity. Such substrate elasticity-dependent changes of AFSCs were similar to the gradual transition in the genetic, biochemical, and biomechanical characteristics of cells from inner to outer regions of native AF tissue. Together, findings from this study indicate that AFSCs, depending on the substrate elasticity, have strong tendencies to differentiate into various types of AF-like cells, thereby providing a solid foundation for the tissue engineering applications of AFSCs.
Statement of significance
Repairing the annulus fibrosus (AF) of intervertebral disc (IVD) is critical for the treatment of disc degeneration disease, but remains challenging due to the significant heterogeneity of AF tissue. Previously, we have identified rabbit AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs), which are AF tissue-specific and hold promise for AF regeneration. In this study, we synthesized a series of poly(ether carbonate urethane)ureas of various elasticity (or stiffness) and explored the potential of induced differentiation of AFSCs using electrospun PECUU scaffolds. This work has, for the first time, found that AFSCs are able to present different gene expression patterns simply as a result of the elasticity of scaffold material. Therefore, our findings will help supplement current knowledge of AF tissue regeneration and may benefit a diversified readership from scientific, engineering, and clinical settings whose work involves the biology and tissue engineering of IVD.
Co-reporter:Xin Ma, Zhiwei He, Fengxuan Han, Zhiyuan Zhong, Liang Chen, Bin Li
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 2016 Volume 143() pp:81-87
Publication Date(Web):1 July 2016
DOI:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.03.025
•Hybrid hydrogels composed of collagen, hydroxyapatite and alendronate.•Formed under physiological condition using genipin as crosslinker.•Gelation time ranged from 5 to 37 min.•Had improved mechanical property and tunable enzymatical degradation.•Supported osteoblastic cell adhesion and growth.Development of biomimetic scaffolds represents a promising direction in bone tissue engineering. In this study, we designed a two-step process to prepare a type of biomimetic hybrid hydrogels that were composed of collagen, hydroxyapatite (HAP) and alendronate (ALN), an anti-osteoporosis drug. First, water-soluble ALN-conjugated HAP (HAP-ALN) containing 4.0 wt.% of ALN was synthesized by treating HAP particles with ALN. Hydrogels were then formed from HAP-ALN conjugate and collagen under physiological conditions using genipin (GNP) as the crosslinker. Depending on the ALN/collagen molar ratio and GNP concentration, the gelation time of hydrogels ranged from 5 to 37 min. Notably, these hybrid hydrogels exhibited markedly improved mechanical property (storage modulus G′= 38–187 kPa), higher gel contents, and lower swelling ratios compared to the hydrogels prepared from collagen alone under similar conditions. Moreover, they showed tunable degradation behaviors against collagenase. The collagen/HAP-ALN hybrid hydrogels supported the adhesion and growth of murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells well. Such tough yet enzymatically degradable hybrid hydrogels hold potential as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.Biomimetic hybrid hydrogels composed of collagen and alendronate (ALN)-functionalized hydroxyapatite (HAP) were synthesized and used as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
Co-reporter:Li Zhou, Caihong Zhu, Wenguo Cui, Huilin Yang, Bin Li
Journal of Controlled Release 2015 Volume 213() pp:e10
Publication Date(Web):10 September 2015
DOI:10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.05.012
Co-reporter:Bingbing Guo, Qianping Guo, Guoqing Pan, Bin Li, Huilin Yang
Journal of Controlled Release 2015 Volume 213() pp:e36-e37
Publication Date(Web):10 September 2015
DOI:10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.05.058
Co-reporter:Bingbing Guo, Guoqing Pan, Qianping Guo, Caihong Zhu, Wenguo Cui, Bin Li and Huilin Yang
Chemical Communications 2015 vol. 51(Issue 4) pp:644-647
Publication Date(Web):13 Nov 2014
DOI:10.1039/C4CC08183H
Saccharides and temperature dual-responsive hydrogels have been prepared based on PNIPAAm copolymers containing phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups and used for harvesting cell sheets. The cell sheet could be released from the hydrogel layer at 37 °C simply by increasing sugar concentration, and could be more efficiently released at a lower temperature and elevated sugar concentration.
Co-reporter:Qianping Guo;Chen Liu;Jun Li;Caihong Zhu;Huilin Yang
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 2015 Volume 19( Issue 7) pp:1582-1592
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1111/jcmm.12533
Abstract
Tissue engineering has recently evolved into a promising approach for annulus fibrosus (AF) regeneration. However, selection of an ideal cell source, which can be readily differentiated into AF cells of various regions, remains challenging because of the heterogeneity of AF tissue. In this study, we set out to explore the feasibility of using transforming growth factor-β3-mediated bone marrow stem cells (tBMSCs) for AF tissue engineering. Since the differentiation of stem cells significantly relies on the stiffness of substrate, we fabricated nanofibrous scaffolds from a series of biodegradable poly(ether carbonate urethane)-urea (PECUU) materials whose elastic modulus approximated that of native AF tissue. We cultured tBMSCs on PECUU scaffolds and compared their gene expression profile to AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs), the newly identified AF tissue-specific stem cells. As predicted, the expression of collagen-I in both tBMSCs and AFSCs increased with scaffold stiffness, whereas the expression of collagen-II and aggrecan genes showed an opposite trend. Interestingly, the expression of collagen-I, collagen-II and aggrecan genes in tBMSCs on PECUU scaffolds were consistently higher than those in AFSCs regardless of scaffold stiffness. In addition, the cell traction forces (CTFs) of both tBMSCs and AFSCs gradually decreased with scaffold stiffness, which is similar to the CTF change of cells from inner to outer regions of native AF tissue. Together, findings from this study indicate that tBMSCs had strong tendency to differentiate into various types of AF cells and presented gene expression profiles similar to AFSCs, thereby establishing a rationale for the use of tBMSCs in AF tissue engineering.
Co-reporter:Chengbin Cao, Hao Li, Jun Li, Chen Liu, Huilin Yang, Bin Li
Ceramics International 2014 Volume 40(Issue 9) pp:13987-13993
Publication Date(Web):November 2014
DOI:10.1016/j.ceramint.2014.05.123
Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) are promising injectable orthopedic materials with excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. However, the inferior mechanical strength limits their use to low load-bearing areas only. In this study, we synthesized hydroxyapatite (HA)–silk fibroin (SF) complex through a co-precipitation method and supplemented it to an injectable CPC/SF composite. We found that the compressive strength of the three-component composite, CPC/HA–SF/SF, kept increasing with HA–SF content if it did not exceed 3 wt%. Such a reinforcing effect was likely the result of improved interfacial integrity and oriented growth of HA crystals in CPC/SF composite upon HA–SF supplementation. The setting time of CPC/HA–SF/SF composites decreased as a function of HA–SF content, with no apparent effect on injectability. Moreover, the CPC/HA–SF/SF composites showed good biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. Such composites hold good promise for many orthopedic applications, including serving as filler materials for minimally invasive surgeries to treat vertebral fractures.
Co-reporter:Li Zhou, Caihong Zhu, Laura Edmonds, Huilin Yang, Wenguo Cui and Bin Li
RSC Advances 2014 vol. 4(Issue 81) pp:43220-43226
Publication Date(Web):28 Aug 2014
DOI:10.1039/C4RA07518H
Water-solubility facilitates drug transportation and distribution of drugs throughout the body and hence effectively promotes their absorption. While there have been a number of techniques for incorporating water-soluble drugs into electrospun fibers to realize sustained release of them, problems including burst and uncontrolled release still remain to be solved. In this study, we developed a microsol-electrospinning technique for fabricating core–shell microfibers to achieve incubated, controlled and sustainable release of water-soluble drugs such as chloroquine (CQ). In this approach, nanoparticles made of CQ-loaded hyaluronic acid (HA) sol were first prepared using the emulsification method. Next, the HA-sol nanoparticles were dispersed in poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) electrospinning solution to form a uniform suspension, which was used for fabricating composite microfibers through microsol-electrospinning. Judging from SEM and TEM, the composite microfibers had smooth, uniform morphology and core–shell structure. Further tests showed that the microsol-electrospun microfibers had similar physical, chemical, and mechanical properties as microfibers fabricated using a conventional electrospinning approach. In vitro drug release tests showed that compared to conventional electrospun microfibers, the burst release of CQ was significantly reduced in microsol-electrospun microfibers. Meanwhile, the release time of CQ was markedly extended, being as long as more than 40 days. Importantly, the drug release rate could be readily adjusted by changing the concentration of microsol particles and the amount of drug in the microfibers. Together, findings from this study have revealed that microsol-electrospinning is a facile technique for loading water-soluble drugs into electrospun microfibers and releasing them in a controlled fashion, which may expand the applications of water-soluble drugs.
Co-reporter:Shengjie Dong, Junying Sun, Yadong Li, Jun Li, Wenguo Cui, Bin Li
Materials Science and Engineering: C 2014 Volume 35() pp:426-433
Publication Date(Web):1 February 2014
DOI:10.1016/j.msec.2013.11.027
•Dicalcium silicate (C2S) nanoparticles were prepared via a sol–gel process.•C2S nanoparticles were stabilized using ultrasonic-aging technique.•PLLA-C2S composite nanofibers were fabricated through electrospinning technique.•C2S nanoparticles could be homogenously distributed in nanofibers.•The composite scaffolds enhanced proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.Polymeric nanofibrous composite scaffolds incorporating bioglass and bioceramics have been increasingly promising for bone tissue engineering. In the present study, electrospun poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds containing dicalcium silicate (C2S) nanoparticles (approximately 300 nm) were fabricated. Using a novel ultrasonic dispersion and aging method, uniform C2S nanoparticles were prepared and they were homogenously distributed in the PLLA nanofibers upon electrospinning. In vitro, the PLLA-C2S fibers induced the formation of HAp on the surface when immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). During culture, the osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells adhered well on PLLA-C2S scaffolds, as evidenced by the well-defined actin stress fibers and well-spreading morphology. Further, compared to pure PLLA scaffolds without C2S, PLLA-C2S scaffolds markedly promoted the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells as well as their osteogenic differentiation, which was characterized by the enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Together, findings from this study clearly demonstrated that PLLA-C2S composite scaffold may function as an ideal candidate for bone tissue engineering.
Co-reporter:Guoqing Pan, Qianping Guo, Chengbin Cao, Huilin Yang and Bin Li
Soft Matter 2013 vol. 9(Issue 14) pp:3840-3850
Publication Date(Web):25 Feb 2013
DOI:10.1039/C3SM27505A
Intelligent nanogels which respond to environmental stimuli with on/off characteristics hold great promise in a number of biomedical applications including drug/gene delivery, diagnostics and therapeutics. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel type of thermo-responsive nanogel built using the molecular imprinting technique for specific recognition and controlled release of proteins. Using lysozyme as the protein template and N-isopropylacrylamide as the major monomer, protein-imprinted spherical nanogel particles were readily prepared via aqueous precipitation polymerization with the aid of a surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Simply by adjusting the SDS amount during polymerization, the size of nanogels could be finely controlled, ranging from a few hundred down to a few dozen nanometers. Compared to non-imprinted counterparts, the lysozyme-imprinted nanogels possessed higher rebinding capacity, more rapid rebinding kinetics, and much higher specificity toward lysozyme. Importantly, both the rebinding and release characteristics of lysozyme-imprinted nanogels showed dramatic temperature-dependence, with clear on–off transition around 33 °C, i.e., the volume phase transition temperature of the thermo-responsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Therefore, we have developed a facile yet versatile approach to fabricate molecularly imprinted nanogels of well controlled sizes and thermo-responsive binding/release properties toward specific biomolecules, which may facilitate a broad spectrum of applications ranging from bioseparation and biosensing to drug delivery and therapeutics.
Co-reporter:Dr. Guoqing Pan;Qianping Guo;Yue Ma;Dr. Huilin Yang;Dr. Bin Li
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2013 Volume 52( Issue 27) pp:6907-6911
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1002/anie.201300733
Co-reporter:Jianying Zhang, Bin Li, James H-C. Wang
Biomaterials 2011 32(29) pp: 6972-6981
Publication Date(Web):
DOI:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.05.088
Co-reporter:J. C. Arthur
Science 1921 Vol 53(1367) pp:228-229
Publication Date(Web):11 Mar 1921
DOI:10.1126/science.53.1367.228
Co-reporter:Zhiwei He, Qingpan Zhai, Muli Hu, Chengbin Cao, ... Bin Li
Journal of Orthopaedic Translation (January 2015) Volume 3(Issue 1) pp:1-11
Publication Date(Web):1 January 2015
DOI:10.1016/j.jot.2014.11.002
Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) have gradually evolved into a serious health care problem globally. In order to reduce the morbidity of OVCF patients and improve their life quality, two minimally invasive surgery procedures, vertebroplasty (VP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP), have been developed. Both VP and BKP require the injection of bone cement into the vertebrae of patients to stabilize fractured vertebra. As such, bone cement as the filling material plays an essential role in the effectiveness of these treatments. In this review article, we summarize the bone cements that are currently available in the market and those still under development. Two major categories of bone cements, nondegradable acrylic bone cements (ABCs) and degradable calcium phosphate cements (CPCs), are introduced in detail. We also provide our perspectives on the future development of bone cements for VP and BKP.
Co-reporter:Pinghui Zhou, Li Zhou, Caihong Zhu, Qianping Guo, Guoqing Pan, Huilin Yang, Wenguo Cui and Bin Li
Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2016 - vol. 4(Issue 12) pp:NaN2178-2178
Publication Date(Web):2016/02/24
DOI:10.1039/C6TB00023A
Application of electrospun fibers for the purpose of loading and controlled release of water-soluble drugs remains a challenge due to their low carrying effect as well as quick and unstable drug release. In this study, we have developed a novel nanogel-electrospinning technology through which more stable loading and prolonged release of water-soluble drugs was achieved. In brief, nanogel particles synthesized from a chloroquine (CQ)-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution were prepared and then combined with genipin, a crosslinking agent. The nanogel solution was then crosslinked to prepare an electrospinning solution with an inner mesh structure. Finally, the microfibrous membranes were fabricated by electrospinning the solution. Uniform BSA nanogel particles were wrapped in the fiber membrane and the number of particles increased with the increase of BSA and genipin concentrations. In addition to being loaded within the BSA nanogel particles, CQ was distributed in the fibers as well, which could be clearly identified using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of nanogel-electrospun microfibers were similar to those of microfibers formed through a conventional electrospinning approach. The drug release tests indicated that with the same number of BSA nanogel particles, increased CQ loading resulted in increased initial release of the same. The duration of a single drug release cycle lasted up to 40 days. In conclusion, findings from this study have indicated that nanogel-electrospinning is a convenient and effective technology to achieve controlled long-term release of water-soluble drugs.
Co-reporter:Bingbing Guo, Guoqing Pan, Qianping Guo, Caihong Zhu, Wenguo Cui, Bin Li and Huilin Yang
Chemical Communications 2015 - vol. 51(Issue 4) pp:NaN647-647
Publication Date(Web):2014/11/13
DOI:10.1039/C4CC08183H
Saccharides and temperature dual-responsive hydrogels have been prepared based on PNIPAAm copolymers containing phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups and used for harvesting cell sheets. The cell sheet could be released from the hydrogel layer at 37 °C simply by increasing sugar concentration, and could be more efficiently released at a lower temperature and elevated sugar concentration.
![Poly[oxy[(1S)-1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-ethanediyl]]](http://img.cochemist.com/ccimg/26200/26161-42-2.png)
![Poly[oxy[(1S)-1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-ethanediyl]]](http://img.cochemist.com/ccimg/26200/26161-42-2_b.png)