Biomaterials Science Blog

A bio-ink to print living cells onto a surface using a commercial printer has been developed by Dr Marc in het Panhuis and colleagues at the University of Wollongong, Australia. Bioprinting can be used for tissue engineering and analytical applications. The bio-ink consists of a gel – gellan gum – that’s used in food additives. The gel makes sure that the cells in the bio-ink remain suspended with no sign of aggregation, which was the problem with previous inks. Aggregation means an uneven distribution of cells being printed out onto a surface.

Bio-ink for printing living cells on demand

Biomater. Sci., 2012, Advance Article.  DOI: 10.1039/c2bm00114d

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A tissue engineering approach based on the use of bioceramics for bone repair

Mesoporous bioactive ceramics that form scaffolds by prototyping are excellent candidates for bone regeneration. This review by Salinas, Esbrit and Vallet-Regí describes the use of bioceramics such as those based on oxides, phosphates, carbonates, nitrides, carbides, carbons and glasses for bone repair.

(Biomater. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2bm00071g, Advance article)

Progress and perspectives in developing polymeric vectors for in vitro gene delivery

The problems associated with gene-delivery vectors for human gene therapy as discussed in this Review by Yue and Wu. The Review focuses on how polymeric vectors navigate each intracellular obstacle or “slit”. Intracellular trafficking mechanisms of DNA-polymer complexes are particularly focussed upon.

(Biomater. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/ c2bm00030j, Advance article)

Effects of zinc and strontium substitution in tricalcium phosphate on osteoclast differentiation and resorption

Biomaterials for bone replacement must be able to regulate osteoblast and osteoclast functions to maintain the dynamics of bone remodelling. In this paper, Bose and co-workers report osteoclast-like cell differentiation and resorption activity in the presence of β-tricalcium phosphate and Zn-and Sr-doped tricalcium phosphate materials in an in vitro study. The presence of Zn was found to reduce activity in all cultures, but the osteoclast-like cellular resorption process was not affected.

(Biomater. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/ c2bm00012a, Advance article)

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Understanding the role of nano-topography on the surface of a bone-implant

This review by Walboomers and co-authors discusses the interaction of cells with the nano-topographical features of bone implants. The review also details the characterisation of implant surfaces and their manufacture.

(Biomater. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2bm00032f, Advance article)

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle-entrapped polyion complex micelles generate singlet oxygen in the cells by ultrasound irradiation for sonodynamic therapy

The main cytotoxic agent in photodynamic therapy is believed to be the reactive oxygen species ¹O₂ which is used to treat cancerous diseases.  In this paper, Harada and co-workers investigate the generation of reactive oxygen species using sonication of TiO₂ nanoparticles. They first synthesised TiO₂ nanoparticle-entrapped micelles with a core-shell structure. The nanoparticles were able to generate reactive oxygen species by sonication when inside the micelles. The frequently of sonication was appropriate for clinical situations, thus they has the potential to be used in sonodynamic therapy.

(Biomater. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2bm00066k, Advance article)

A progressive approach on inactivation of bacteria using silver–titania nanoparticles

The antibacterial properties of silver compounds have long been known. In this paper by Li, Luo and Bashir, Ag-decorated TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by a colloidal chemistry method. The nanoparticles were coincubated with model microbes, that are found in water, to investigate their biocidal effectiveness. The bactericidal mechanism was also investigated with a focus on the role of the microbial outer membrane.

(Biomater. Sci., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2bm00010e, Advance article)

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