Comparison of the Anabolic Effects of Reported Osteogenic Compounds on Human Mesenchymal Progenitor-derived Osteoblasts

Role of vitamins beyond vitamin D3 in bone health and osteoporosis (Review)

The objective of the present review was to summarize the molecular mechanisms associated with the effects of the vitamins A, C, E and K, and group B vitamins on bone and their potential roles in the development of osteoporosis. Epidemiological findings have demonstrated an association between vitamin deficiency and a higher risk of developing osteoporosis; vitamins are positively related to bone health upon their intake at the physiological range. Excessive vitamin intake can also adversely affect bone formation, as clearly demonstrated for vitamin A. Vitamins E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), K2 (menaquinones 4 and 7) and C have also been shown to promote osteoblast development through bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/Smad and Wnt/β‑catenin signaling, as well as the TGFβ/Smad pathway (α‑tocopherol). Vitamin A metabolite (all‑trans retinoic acid) exerts both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on BMP‑ and Wnt/β‑catenin‑mediated osteogenesis at the nanomolar and micromolar range, respectively. Certain vitamins significantly reduce receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‑B ligand (RANKL) production and RANKL/RANK signaling, while increasing the level of osteoprotegerin (OPG), thus reducing the RANKL/OPG ratio and exerting anti‑osteoclastogenic effects. Ascorbic acid can both promote and inhibit RANKL signaling, being essential for osteoclastogenesis. Vitamin K2 has also been shown to prevent vascular calcification by activating matrix Gla protein through its carboxylation. Therefore, the maintenance of a physiological intake of vitamins should be considered as a nutritional strategy for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Icariin: A Potential Alternative Against Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a metabolic skeletal disorder characterized by increased fragility and fracture risk as s result of reduced bone mineral density and microstructural destruction and caused a heavy burden on families and society. Current medicines, on the other hand, have some limitations, with side effects and doubts regarding long-term efficacy being highlighted. Studies seeking for natural constituents as potential treatment options therefore come into focus. Icariin is a phytochemical derived from a traditional Chinese medicine, Herba epimedium, that has been used to treat orthopedic disorders in ancient China for thousands of years, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and fracture. Icariin belongs to a category of prenylated flavonoids and has been shown to help reduce osteoporosis bone loss while having relatively low side effects. Icariin's anti-osteoporosis properties manifest in a variety of ways, like promoting osteogenesis, suppressing osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, regulating migration, proliferation, and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, enhancing angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, and antioxidation. These procedures entail a slew of critical signaling pathways, such as PPARγ, ERα/AKT/β-catenin, and MAPK. Therefore, icariin can be an applicable alternative to improve osteoporosis although the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully understood. In this study, we searched using the terms “icariin” and “osteoporosis,” and included 64 articles meeting the inclusion criteria and reviewed the research of icariin in anti-osteoporosis over the last 10 years, and discussed new prospects for future study. Therefore, this review may provide some references for further studies.

Recapitulation of dynamic nanoparticle transport around tumors using a triangular multi-chamber tumor-on-a-chip

3D tumor models are emerging as valuable tools for drug screening and nanoparticle based personalized cancer treatments. The main challenges in building microfluidic chip-based 3D tumor models currently include the development of bioinks with high bioactivity and the reproduction of the key tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) with heterogeneous tumor microenvironments. In this study, we designed a triangular multi-chamber tumor-on-a-chip (TM-CTC) platform, which consisted of three circular chambers at the vertices of a triangle connected by three rectangular chambers; it significantly improved the culture efficiency of 3D tumor tissues. MCF-7 tumor cells were cultured in a 3D ECM and then dynamically perfused for 7 days of culture to obtain abundant tumor spheroids with uniform size (100 ± 4.1 μm). The biological features of the 3D tumor tissue including epithelial transformation (EMT), hypoxia and proliferation activities were reproduced in the triangular multi-chamber tumor-on-a-chip (TM-CTC) platform. The permeability results of NPs confirmed that the ECM exhibited a significant barrier effect on the transportation of NPs when compared with free drugs, indicating that the ECM barrier should be considered as one of the key factors of drug delivery carrier development. In addition, this TM-CTC model provided a suitable platform for constructing a complex heterogeneous tumor microenvironment with multiple cells (MCF-7, HUVEC and MRC-5) involved, which was beneficial for exploring the dynamic interaction between tumor cells and other cells in the tumor microenvironment. The above results suggest that this TM-CTC model can simulate the dynamic transportation of NPs around 3D tumor tissues, and thus provide a reliable platform for NP evaluation.

Dual-Action Icariin-Containing Thermosensitive Hydrogel for Wound Macrophage Polarization and Hair-Follicle Neogenesis

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway is essential for M2 macrophage polarization and hair-follicle neogenesis. Icariin, a flavonoid derived from Epimedium, is a mediator of the BMP pathway. Here, we develop a hydrogel formulation functionalized with icariin for regulation of macrophage polarization to accelerate wound healing and hair-follicle neogenesis. Compared to skin defects without icariin treatment, those treated with icariin+PEG hydrogel healed faster and had new hair follicles. Results in vivo showed that icariin+PEG hydrogel induced a higher level of M2 phenotypic transformation of macrophages. Moreover, icariin+PEG hydrogel significantly accelerated wound-repair process by reducing the invasion of inflammation, excessive deposition of collagen, immoderate activation of myofibroblasts, and increasing the regeneration of hair follicles. Furthermore, studies in vitro demonstrated that the icariin+PEG hydrogel induced macrophages to polarize to the M2 phenotype and dermal papilla cell to hair follicles. Finally, molecular analysis demonstrated that the icariin+PEG hydrogel increased the expression of BMP4 and Smad1/5 phosphorylation in skin wounds. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of icariin-containing thermosensitive hydrogels for inducing M2 macrophage polarization to accelerate wound healing and promote hair-follicle neogenesis by regulating the BMP pathway.

Mineralizing Coating on 3D Printed Scaffolds for the Promotion of Osseointegration

Design and fabrication of implants that can perform better than autologous bone grafts remain an unmet challenge for the hard tissue regeneration in craniomaxillofacial applications. Here, we report an integrated approach combining additive manufacturing with supramolecular chemistry to develop acellular mineralizing 3D printed scaffolds for hard tissue regeneration. Our approach relies on an elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) coating designed to trigger and guide the growth of ordered apatite on the surface of 3D printed nylon scaffolds. Three test samples including a) uncoated nylon scaffolds (referred to as "Uncoated"), b) ELR coated scaffolds (referred to as "ELR only"), and c) ELR coated and in vitro mineralized scaffolds (referred to as "Pre-mineralized") were prepared and tested for in vitro and in vivo performance. All test samples supported normal human immortalized mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation with enhanced cell proliferation observed in the "Pre-mineralized" samples. Using a rabbit calvarial in vivo model, 'Pre-mineralized' scaffolds also exhibited higher bone ingrowth into scaffold pores and cavities with higher tissue-implant integration. However, the coated scaffolds ("ELR only" and "Pre-mineralized") did not exhibit significantly more new bone formation compared to "Uncoated" scaffolds. Overall, the mineralizing coating offers an opportunity to enhance integration of 3D printed bone implants. However, there is a need to further decipher and tune their immunologic response to develop truly osteoinductive/conductive surfaces.

Effects of PIN on Osteoblast Differentiation and Matrix Mineralization through Runt-Related Transcription Factor

Styrax Japonica Sieb. et Zucc. has been used as traditional medicine in inflammatory diseases, and isolated compounds have shown pharmacological activities. Pinoresinol glucoside (PIN) belonging to lignins was isolated from the stem bark of S. Japonica. This study aimed to investigate the biological function and mechanisms of PIN on cell migration, osteoblast differentiation, and matrix mineralization. Herein, we investigated the effects of PIN in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts, which are widely used for studying osteoblast behavior in in vitro cell systems. At concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 μM, PIN had no cell toxicity in pre-osteoblasts. Pre-osteoblasts induced osteoblast differentiation, and the treatment of PIN (10 and 30 μM) promoted the cell migration rate in a dose-dependent manner. At concentrations of 10 and 30 μM, PIN elevated early osteoblast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by increases in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and activity. Subsequently, PIN also increased the formation of mineralized nodules in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by alizarin red S (ARS) staining, demonstrating positive effects of PIN on late osteoblast differentiation. In addition, PIN induced the mRNA level of BMP2, ALP, and osteocalcin (OCN). PIN also upregulated the protein level of BMP2 and increased canonical BMP2 signaling molecules, the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8, and the protein level of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). Furthermore, PIN activated non-canonical BMP2 signaling molecules, activated MAP kinases, and increased β-catenin signaling. The findings of this study indicate that PIN has biological roles in osteoblast differentiation and matrix mineralization, and suggest that PIN might have anabolic effects in bone diseases such as osteoporosis and periodontitis.

Design and Evaluation of an Osteogenesis-on-a-Chip Microfluidic Device Incorporating 3D Cell Culture

Microfluidic-based tissue-on-a-chip devices have generated significant research interest for biomedical applications, such as pharmaceutical development, as they can be used for small volume, high throughput studies on the effects of therapeutics on tissue-mimics. Tissue-on-a-chip devices are evolving from basic 2D cell cultures incorporated into microfluidic devices to complex 3D approaches, with modern designs aimed at recapitulating the dynamic and mechanical environment of the native tissue. Thus far, most tissue-on-a-chip research has concentrated on organs involved with drug uptake, metabolism and removal (e.g., lung, skin, liver, and kidney); however, models of the drug metabolite target organs will be essential to provide information on therapeutic efficacy. Here, we develop an osteogenesis-on-a-chip device that comprises a 3D environment and fluid shear stresses, both important features of bone. This inexpensive, easy-to-fabricate system based on a polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion (polyHIPE) supports proliferation, differentiation and extracellular matrix production of human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (hES-MPs) over extended time periods (up to 21 days). Cells respond positively to both chemical and mechanical stimulation of osteogenesis, with an intermittent flow profile containing rest periods strongly promoting differentiation and matrix formation in comparison to static and continuous flow. Flow and shear stresses were modeled using computational fluid dynamics. Primary cilia were detectable on cells within the device channels demonstrating that this mechanosensory organelle is present in the complex 3D culture environment. In summary, this device aids the development of ‘next-generation’ tools for investigating novel therapeutics for bone in comparison with standard laboratory and animal testing.

Cellular Fragments as Biomaterial for Rapid In Vitro Bone-Like Tissue Synthesis

Current stem cell-based techniques for bone-like tissue synthesis require at least two to three weeks. Therefore, novel techniques to promote rapid 3D bone-like tissue synthesis in vitro are still required. In this study, we explored the concept of using cell nanofragments as a substrate material to promote rapid bone formation in vitro. The methods for cell nanofragment fabrication were ultrasonication (30 s and 3 min), non-ionic detergent (triton 0.1% and 1%), or freeze-dried powder. The results showed that ultrasonication for 3 min allowed the fabrication of homogeneous nanofragments of less than 150 nm in length, which mineralized surprisingly in just one day, faster than the fragments obtained from all other methods. Further optimization of culture conditions indicated that a concentration of 10 mM or 100 mM of β-glycerophosphate enhanced, whereas fetal bovine serum (FBS) inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner, the mineralization of the cell nanofragments. Finally, a 3D collagen-cell nanofragment-mineral complex mimicking a bone-like structure was generated in just two days by combining the cell nanofragments in collagen gel. In conclusion, sonication for three min could be applied as a novel method to fabricate cell nanofragments of less than 150 nm in length, which can be used as a material for in vitro bone tissue engineering.

Combined Porogen Leaching and Emulsion Templating to produce Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Bone has a hierarchy of porosity that is often overlooked when creating tissue engineering scaffolds where pore sizes are typically confined to a single order of magnitude. High internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templating produces polymerized HIPEs (polyHIPEs): highly interconnected porous polymers which have two length scales of porosity covering the 1-100 μm range. However, additional larger scales of porosity cannot be introduced in the standard emulsion formulation. Researchers have previously overcome this by additively manufacturing emulsions; fabricating highly microporous struts into complex macroporous geometries. This is time consuming and expensive; therefore, here we assessed the feasibility of combining porogen leaching with emulsion templating to introduce additional macroporosity. Alginate beads between 275 and 780 μm were incorporated into the emulsion at 0, 50, and 100 wt%. Once polymerized, alginate was dissolved leaving highly porous polyHIPE scaffolds with added macroporosity. The compressive modulus of the scaffolds decreased as alginate porogen content increased. Cellular performance was assessed using MLO-A5 post-osteoblasts. Seeding efficiency was significantly higher and mineralized matrix deposition was more uniformly deposited throughout porogen leached scaffolds compared to plain polyHIPEs. Deep cell infiltration only occurred in porogen leached scaffolds as detected by histology and lightsheet microscopy. This study reveals a quick, low cost and simple method of producing multiscale porosity scaffolds for tissue engineering.