Effect of trehalose coating on basic fibroblast growth factor release from tailor-made bone implants

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Artificial bone implants often use osteoinductive factors for bone regeneration.
• Calcium phosphate in implants can bind these factors, hindering release and reducing osteoinductivity at physiological pH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate trehalose coating on artificial bone implants to improve basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) release.
• To evaluate the impact of trehalose coating on cell viability and implant properties.

Main Methods:

• Artificial bone implants were coated with trehalose.
• In vitro study using mouse osteoblastic cells cultured with untreated, trehalose-coated, bFGF-incorporated, and trehalose-coated bFGF-incorporated implants.
• Cell viability assessed, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) used for surface and structural analysis.

Main Results:

• The trehalose-coated bFGF-incorporated implant group (FT+) showed significantly higher cell viability (P<0.05).
• SEM and XRD confirmed trehalose effectively covered the implant surface without altering crystallinity or mechanical strength.
• Trehalose coating appears to limit bFGF binding to calcium phosphate.

Conclusions:

• Trehalose coating is a viable strategy to enhance bFGF release from artificial bone implants.
• This method improves osteoinductivity and cell viability, offering potential for improved bone regeneration.
• The trehalose coating maintains the structural integrity of the artificial bone implant.