Growth and phenotypic expression of human endothelial cells cultured on a glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite

Vascular biosafety of commercial hydroxyapatite particles: discrepancy between blood compatibility assays and endothelial cell behavior

BACKGROUND

Vascular homeostasis is ensured by a dynamic interplay involving the endothelium, the platelets and the coagulation system. Thus, the vascular safety of particulate materials must address this integrated system, an approach that has been largely neglected. This work analysed the effects of commercial hydroxyapatite (HA) particles in blood compatibility and in endothelial cell behavior, due to their clinical relevance and scarcity of data on their vascular biosafety.

RESULTS

Particles with similar chemical composition and distinct size and morphology were tested, i.e. rod-like, nano dimensions and low aspect ratio (HAp1) and needle-shape with wider size and aspect ratio (HAp2). HAp1 and HAp2, at 1 to 10 mg/mL, did not affect haemolysis, platelet adhesion, aggregation and activation, or the coagulation system (intrinsic and extrinsic pathways), although HAp2 exhibited a slight thrombogenic potential at 10 mg/mL. Notwithstanding, significantly lower levels presented dose-dependent toxicity on endothelial cells' behavior. HAp1 and HAp2 decreased cell viability at levels ≥ 250 and ≥ 50 μg/mL, respectively. At 10 and 50 μg/mL, HAp1 did not interfere with the F-actin cytoskeleton, apoptotic index, cell cycle progression, expression of vWF, VECad and CD31, and the ability to form a network of tubular-like structures. Comparatively, HAp2 caused dose-dependent toxic effects in these parameters in the same concentration range.

CONCLUSION

The most relevant observation is the great discrepancy of HA particles' levels that interfere with the routine blood compatibility assays and the endothelial cell behavior. Further, this difference was also found to be dependent on the particles' size, morphology and aspect ratio, emphasizing the need of a complementary biological characterization, taking into consideration the endothelial cells' functionality, to establish the vascular safety of particulate HA.

Application of strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate scaffold on angiogenesis for bone tissue engineering

The key factor for regenerating large segmental bone defects through bone tissue engineering is angiogenesis in scaffolds. Attempts to overcome this problem, it is a good strategy to develop a new scaffold with bioactivity to induce angiogenesis in bone tissue engineering. In our previous research, the ability of strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate (SCPP) to stimulate the release of angiogenic growth factors from cultured osteoblasts was studied. This study was performed to determine the ability of SCPP to induce angiogenesis within in vitro co-culture model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and osteoblasts co-cultured. The bioactivity of developed scaffolds to induce angiogenesis in vivo was also researched in this paper. Co-cultured model has been developed in vitro and then cultured with SCPP scaffold as well as calcium polyphosphate (CPP) scaffold and hydroxylapatite (HA) scaffold. The results showed that the optimal ratio of HUVEC and osteoblasts co-cultured model for in vitro angiogenesis was 5:1. The model could maintain for more than 35 days when cultured with the scaffold and show the best activity at 21st day. Compared with those in CPP and HA scaffold, the formation of tube-like structure and the expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule in co-cultured model is better in SCPP scaffold. The in vivo immunohistochemistry staining for VEGF also showed that SCPP had a potential to promote the formation of angiogenesis and the regeneration of bone. SCPP scaffold could be served as a potential biomaterial with stimulating angiogenesis in bone tissue engineering and bone repair.

Investigating the feasibility of using a grit blasting process to coat nitinol stents with hydroxyapatite

This study investigates the feasibility of utilising a grit blasting process to coat three nitinol substrates (a planer 2D surface, a circular wire and a cardiovascular stent geometry) with a hydroxyapatite coating. Surface characteristics of the coating on the three substrates were determined and additionally the durability of the coating post fatigue testing was analysed. The coating process resulted in a consistent covering of the substrate that resulted in an extremely hydrophilic stent surface. The surface roughness was dependant on grit blasting particle size. A general trend of smaller particle size resulted in a lower surface roughness, while particle size did not have an effect on the hydroxyapatite coating thickness. Fatigue integrity tests that simulated 16 months implantation demonstrated minimal damage to the coating. In conclusion we demonstrated the initial feasibility of using a grit blasting method to produce a consistent, hydrophilic, and durable HAp stent coating that has the capability of incorporating a drug eluting function.

Reciprocal induction of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and human mesenchymal stem cells: time-dependent profile in a co-culture system

OBJECTIVES

Angiogenesis is closely associated with osteogenesis where reciprocal interactions between endothelial and osteoblast cells play an important role in bone regeneration. For these reasons, the aim of this work was to develop a co-culture system to study in detail any time-dependent interactions between human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSC) and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC), co-cultured in a 2D system, for 35 days.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HMSC and HDMEC were co-cultured at a ratio of 1:4, respectively. Single-cell cultures were used as controls. Cell viability/proliferation was assessed using MTT, DNA quantification and calcein-AM assays. Cell morphology was monitored using confocal microscopy, and real time PCR was performed. Alkaline phosphatase activity and histochemical staining were evaluated. Matrix mineralization assays were also performed.

RESULTS

Cells were able to grow in characteristic patterns maintaining their viability and phenotype expression throughout culture time, compared to HMSC and HDMEC monocultures. HMSC differentiation seemed to be enhanced in the co-culture conditions, since it was observed an over expression of osteogenesis-related genes, and of ALP activity. Furthermore, presence of calcium phosphate deposits was also confirmed.

CONCLUSIONS

This work reports in detail the interactions between HMSC and HDMEC in a long-term co-culture 2D system. Endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells cultured in the present co-culture conditions ensured proliferation and phenotype differentiation of cell types, osteogenesis stimulation and over-expression of angiogenesis-related genes, in the same culture system. It is believed that the present work can lead to significant developments for bone tissue regeneration and cell biology studies.

A glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite and surgical-grade calcium sulfate for bone regeneration: In vivo biological behavior in a sheep model

A glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite (HA) composite (Bonelike®) was developed for bone grafting. This biomaterial is composed of a modified HA matrix with α- and β-tricalcium phosphate secondary phases, resulting in higher solubility than single HA type of materials. Several in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that Bonelike® has a highly bioactive behavior, which was also confirmed by employing granular forms of this biomaterial in orthopedics and dental applications. However, a fast consolidation vehicle was needed to promote the fixation of Bonelike® granules if applied in larger defects or in unstable sites. Surgical-grade calcium sulfate (CS), which is widely recognized as a well-tolerated and inexpensive bone graft material, was the chosen vehicle to improve the handling characteristics of Bonelike® as it can be used in the form of a powder that is mixed with a liquid to form a paste that sets in situ. After application in non-critical monocortical defects in sheep, histological, and scanning electron microscopy evaluations demonstrated that Bonelike® associated to CS functioned as a very satisfactory scaffold for bone regeneration as it achieved synchronization of the ingrowing bone with biomaterial resorption and subsequent preservation of the bone graft initial volume. Therefore, our results indicate that CS is an effective vehicle for Bonelike® granules as it facilitates their application and does not interfere with their proven highly osteoconductive properties. In the opposite way, the incorporation of Bonelike® improves the bone regeneration capabilities of CS.

In vitro models for the evaluation of angiogenic potential in bone engineering

Blood vessels have a fundamental role both in skeletal homeostasis and in bone repair. Angiogenesis is also important for a successful bone engineering. Therefore, scaffolds should be tested for their ability to favour endothelial cell adhesion, proliferation and functions. The type of endothelial cell to use for in vitro assays should be carefully considered, because the properties of these cells may depend on their source. Morphological and functional relationships between endothelial cells and osteoblasts are evaluated with co-cultures, but this model should still be standardized, particularly for distinguishing the two cell types. Platelet-rich plasma and recombinant growth factors may be useful for stimulating angiogenesis.