Three‐dimensional nanofibrous and porous scaffolds of poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐chitosan blends for musculoskeletal tissue engineering

One of the established tissue engineering strategies relies on the fabrication of appropriate materials architectures (scaffolds) that mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and assist the regeneration of living tissues. Fibrous structures produced by electrospinning have been widely used as reliable ECM templates but their two-dimensional structure restricts, in part, cell infiltration and proliferation. A recent technique called thermally-induced self-agglomeration (TISA) allowed to alleviate this drawback by rearranging the 2D electrospun membranes into highly functional 3D porous-fibrous systems. Following this trend, the present research focused on preparing polycaprolactone/chitosan blends by electrospinning, to then convert them into 3D structures by TISA. By adding different amounts of chitosan, it was possible to accurately modulate the physicochemical properties of the obtained 3D nanofibrous scaffolds, leading to highly porous constructs with distinct morphologic and mechanical features. Viability and proliferation studies using adult human chondrocytes also revealed that the biocompatibility of the scaffolds was not impaired after 28 days of cell culture, highlighting their potential to be included into musculoskeletal tissue engineering applications, particularly cartilage repair.

Functionalized-ferroelectric-coating-driven enhanced biomineralization and protein-conformation on metallic implants

In the context of bone regeneration, it is important to have platforms that with appropriate stimuli can support the attachment and direct the growth, proliferation and differentiation of cells.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus: An overview of current virological and serological diagnostic methods

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Molecular assays such as rRT-PCR are the method of choice for PEDV diagnosis.

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Multiplex rRT-PCR allow simultaneous testing for PEDV, TGEV and PDCoV.

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Serological assays provide valuable information on previous exposure to PEDV and population immunity.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is the causative agent of an acute, highly contagious, and severe enteric disease that leads to high mortality rates in suckling piglets. Therefore, accurate diagnosis of PEDV infection is critical for the implementation of control measures for the virus. Many diagnostic tests have been recently developed and are currently available for the detection of PEDV, its proteins or nucleic acid, including virus isolation, immunofluorescence (IF) or immunohistochemistry (IHC), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and isothermal amplification assays. Additionally, several serological assays have been developed and are currently used for the detection of antibodies against PEDV. Molecular assays such as real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (rRT-PCR) became the methods of choice for the diagnosis of PEDV infection, providing sensitive, specific and rapid detection of the virus RNA in clinical samples. Whereas serological assays have been widely used to monitor prior exposure to the virus and to evaluate the efficacy of novel vaccine candidates or vaccination strategies. Here we discuss the properties of current PEDV diagnostic assays and prospects for improving diagnostic strategies in the future.

Influence of ibuprofen addition on the properties of a bioactive bone cement

Bioactive bone cements can promote bone growth and the formation of a strong chemical bond between the implant and bone tissue increasing the lifetime of the prosthesis. This study aims at synthesizing a new bioactive bone cement with different amounts of ibuprofen (5, 10 and 20 wt%) using a low toxicity activator, and investigating its in vitro release profile. The effect of ibuprofen (IB) on the setting parameters, residual monomer and bioactivity in synthetic plasma was also evaluated. It was verified that the different IB contents do not prevent the growth of calcium phosphate aggregates on composite surfaces, confirming that the cements are potentially bioactive. A relevant advantage of these formulations was a significant improvement in their curing parameters with increasing IB amount, associated to a reduction of the peak temperature and an extension of the setting time. The investigated cements released an average of about 20 % of the total incorporated ibuprofen during 30 days test, with IB20 liberating the highest percentage of drug 20.6 %, and IB10 and IB5, respectively 19.1 and 17.6 %. This behavior was attributed to the low solubility of this drug in aqueous media and was also related with the hydrophobic character of the polymer. Regarding the therapeutic concentration sufficient to suppress inflammation, the cement with 10 % of ibuprofen achieved the required release rate for 1 week and the cement with 20 % for 2 weeks.

Acrylic formulations containing bioactive and biodegradable fillers to be used as bone cements: properties and biocompatibility assessment

The solid phase of bioactive self-curing acrylic cements was modified by different biodegradable fillers such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and its copolymer with hydroxyvalerate (PHBV). The addition of the biodegradable fillers made the cement partially degradable, which is important to allow new bone replacement and ingrowth. The thermal analysis, crystallinity, curing parameters, mechanical properties, degradation and cellular tests were studied in order to characterize the cement performance. Within this context it was verified that the incorporation of the PHBV polymer made the cement more resistant, reaching values within the range reported for typical PMMA bone cements. The results also showed that the cement filled with PHBV took up more water than the cement with PHB after 60 days, for all studied formulations. Regarding the osteoblastic cytocompatibility assessment, the inclusion of the PHBV greatly improved the biological response in both cements filled with the silicate or the borate glass, compared to the inclusion of the PHB. The importance of this novel approach resides on the combination of the properties of the cements components and the possibility of allowing bone regeneration, improving the interfaces with both the prosthesis and the bone, and leading to a new material with suitable performance for application as bone cement.

Properties and osteoblast cytocompatibility of self-curing acrylic cements modified by glass fillers

Materials filled with a silicate glass (MSi) and a borate glass (MB) were developed and compared in terms of their in vitro behavior. The effect of filler composition and concentration (0, 30, 40 and 50 wt%) on the curing parameters, residual monomer, water uptake, weight loss, bioactivity, mechanical properties (bending and compression) and osteoblast cytocompatibility was evaluated. The addition of bioactive glass filler significantly improved the cements curing parameters and the mechanical properties. The most relevant results were obtained for the lower filler concentration (30 t%) a maximum flexural strength of 40.4 Pa for MB3 and a maximum compressive strength of 95.7 MPa for MSi3. In vitro bioactivity in acellular media was enhanced by the higher glass contents in the cements. Regarding the biological assessment, the incorporation of the silicate glass significantly improved osteoblast cytocompatibility, whereas the presence of the borate glass resulted in a poor cell response. Nevertheless it was shown that the surviving cells on the MB surface were in a more differentiated stage compared to those growing over non-filled poly(methyl methacrylate). Results suggest that the developed formulations offer a high range of properties that might be interesting for their use as self-curing cements.

Silicate and borate glasses as composite fillers: a bioactivity and biocompatibility study

Composites filled with a silicate glass (CSi) and a new borate glass (CB) were developed and compared in terms of their in vitro behaviour both in acellular and cellular media. Acellular tests were carried out in SBF and the composites were characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD and ICP. Biocompatibility studies were investigated by in vitro cell culture with MG-63 osteoblast-like and human bone marrow cells. The growth of spherical calcium phosphate aggregates was observed in acellular medium on all composite surfaces indicating that these materials became potentially bioactive. The biological assessment resulted in a dissimilar behavior of the composites. The CSi demonstrated an inductive effect on the proliferation of cells. The cells showed a normal morphology and high growth rate when compared to standard culture plates. Contrarily, inhibition of cell proliferation occurred in the CB probably due to its high degradation rate, leading to high B and Mg ionic concentration in the cell culture medium.

Characterization of MSWI bottom ashes towards utilization as glass raw material

The characterization of the bottom ashes produced by two Portuguese municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWI) was performed with the aim of assessing the feasibility of using this waste as raw material in the production of glass that can be further processed as glass-ceramics for application in construction. Density and particle size distribution measurements were carried out for physical characterization. Chemical characterization revealed that SiO(2), a network glass former oxide, was present in a relatively high content (52-58wt%), indicating the suitability for this waste to be employed in the development of vitreous materials. CaO, Na(2)O and K(2)O, which act as fluxing agents, were present in various amounts (2-17wt%) together with several other oxides normally present in ceramic and glass raw materials. Mineralogical characterization revealed that the main crystalline phases were quartz (SiO(2)) and calcite (CaCO(3)) and that minor amounts of different alkaline and alkaline-earth aluminosilicate phases were also present. Thermal characterization showed that the decomposition of the different compounds occurred up to 1100 degrees C and that total weight loss was <10wt%. Heating both bottom ashes at 1400 degrees C for 2h resulted in a melt with suitable viscosity to be poured into a mould, and homogeneous black-coloured glasses with a smooth shiny surface were obtained after cooling. The vitrified bottom ashes were totally amorphous as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The results from the present experimental work indicate that the examined bottom ashes can be a potential material to melt and to obtain a glass that can be further processed as glass-ceramics to be applied in construction.

Evaluation of the influence of albumin on the mineralization of a glass by Atomic Force Microscopy

Bioactive glasses have been used as a graft material that can stimulate the formation of a new bone. In vitro tests usually give sensible indications about the potential bioactivity of these glasses. In the present work the influence of egg albumin on the formation of a Ca-P precipitate on a glass of the system SiO(2)-CaO-MgO-P(2)O(5) was evaluated. The samples were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) that simulates the composition of human plasma, with and without albumin. After immersion in this solution for 7 and 14 days, the glass was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). AFM results of the samples after immersion in SBF with albumin show the development of a precipiate formed from the solution/substrate reaction. Glasses immersed in albumin-free SBF exhibit the formation of a thin layer easily detached from the substrate. XRD results indicate that the precipitate is essentially amorphous, evolving to octacalcium phosphate. As the formation of an adherent precipitate on the glass samples only occurred when the substrate was immersed in SBF with albumin, it is suggested that albumin improves the mineralization on the glasses.

The fluorapatite-anorthite system in biomedicine

Glasses and glass ceramics of fluorapatite-anorthite (eutectic composition) were produced and characterized in order to evaluate their potential application in biomedicine. Bio-reactivity was determined by in vitro tests by immersion of powders in simulated plasma liquids as well as by in vivo experiments by implantation in rabbits. According to the results, the investigated materials are bio-acceptable since no toxic or other harmful evidence was detected. Glass-ceramics showed remarkable inertness, whereas glasses spontaneously dissolved in SBF and after 1 week moderate formation of apatite was observed, that however ceased within a month.

In vitro mineralization of a glass-ceramic of the MgO-3CaO x P2O5-SiO2 system: wettability studies

The calcium phosphate deposition on the surface of a bioactive glass-ceramic of the MgO-3CaO. P(2)O(5)-SiO(2) system during a 1-week immersion in biological model fluids, was investigated through wettability studies. Two model fluids with chemical composition similar to the human blood plasma were tested: Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS) and a simulated body fluid (SBF) with a higher calcium content. The effect of the presence of albumin, both in solution or previously adsorbed to the surface, was assessed. The behavior observed using two SBF solutions prepared with and without TRIS buffer was compared. The surface free energy of the glass-ceramic samples was determined, before and after immersion, and dynamic contact angle analysis was performed using the biological model fluids as scanning liquids. Scanning electron microscope observations and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis were performed to complement the wettability studies. The experimental results led to the conclusion that the precipitation of a calcium phosphate film in HBSS occurred mainly when the immersion solution was renewed daily or in the presence of adsorbed albumin. In SBF, the addition of TRIS buffer seemed to inhibit the formation of the calcium phosphate film.