3D-printed scaffolds with bioactive elements-induced photothermal effect for bone tumor therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Oncology

Background:

• Effective treatment of bone tumors requires materials that can eliminate cancer cells and promote bone defect regeneration.
• Existing biomaterials often have limitations such as long-term toxicity and degradation, restricting their clinical application.
• Incorporating bioactive elements can enhance osteogenic activity, but elements-induced scaffolds for photothermal tumor therapy are underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel 3D-printed bioactive glass-ceramic (BGC) scaffolds doped with elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Co) exhibiting both photothermal anti-tumor effects and osteogenic differentiation capabilities.
• To systematically investigate the photothermal anti-tumor efficacy and osteogenic activity of these elements-doped scaffolds.
• To identify optimal scaffold compositions for combined bone tumor treatment and regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Co)-doped BGC scaffolds using 3D-printing technology.
• Evaluation of photothermal performance by measuring temperature changes under laser irradiation.
• In vitro assessment of anti-tumor effects and osteogenic activity using cancer cells and bone mesenchymal stem cells.
• In vivo studies to evaluate tumor inhibition and bone regeneration potential.

Main Results:

• The elements-doped BGC scaffolds demonstrated significant photothermal performance, with a trend of 5Cu-BGC > 5Fe-BGC > 5Mn-BGC > 5Co-BGC.
• Hyperthermia induced by 5Cu-BGC, 5Fe-BGC, and 5Mn-BGC effectively killed tumor cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo.
• The 5Fe-BGC and 5Mn-BGC scaffolds promoted osteogenic differentiation of bone-forming cells, indicating excellent bone regeneration potential.
• Photothermal performance was controllable by altering doping element type, content, and laser power density.

Conclusions:

• Elements-doped BGC scaffolds offer a promising bifunctional approach for treating bone tumors and regenerating bone defects.
• The 5Fe-BGC and 5Mn-BGC scaffolds exhibit superior potential due to their combined photothermal anti-tumor efficacy and osteogenic activity.
• This strategy represents a significant advancement in combining bioactive elements with tissue engineering scaffolds for enhanced bone cancer therapy and reconstruction.