Highly disordered and resorbable lithiated nanoparticles with osteogenic and angiogenic properties

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bone defects and vascular diseases require advanced therapeutic strategies.
• Current treatments for bone regeneration often face limitations in efficacy and biocompatibility.
• Developing novel biomaterials that promote both osteogenesis and angiogenesis is crucial for effective tissue repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize unique bioresorbable lithiated nanoparticles (LiCP) for bone repair and regeneration.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility and cellular effects of LiCP on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and endothelial cells.
• To assess the efficacy of LiCP in promoting bone formation in an ectopic mouse model.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of bioresorbable lithiated nanoparticles (LiCP) with a median particle size (d50) of 20 nm.
• In vitro assessment of LiCP biocompatibility using BM-MSCs, evaluating cell viability at concentrations up to 1000 μg mL⁻¹.
• In vitro analysis of LiCP's effect on osteogenic markers (collagen I, Runx2) and angiogenic markers (angiogenin, EGF) expression, and endothelial cell tubulogenesis.
• In vivo evaluation of LiCP's bone regenerative capacity in an ectopic mouse model compared to control and non-lithiated nanoparticles.

Main Results:

• LiCP demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, with BM-MSCs maintaining over 90% viability at the highest tested concentration.
• Significant enhancement of osteogenic markers (collagen I, Runx2) and angiogenic markers (angiogenin, EGF) expression in vitro.
• Marked improvement in endothelial cell tubulogenesis across all tested LiCP concentrations.
• LiCP successfully induced mature bone formation in an ectopic mouse model, outperforming controls.

Conclusions:

• Bioresorbable lithiated nanoparticles (LiCP) are a promising, biocompatible material for bone repair and regeneration.
• LiCP exhibits dual functionality, promoting both osteogenesis and angiogenesis, crucial for effective tissue engineering.
• These findings support the potential clinical application of LiCP in bone and vascular tissue engineering, with tunable lithium release for tailored therapeutic outcomes.