Injectable bioactive scaffold able to stimulate oral bone regeneration on demand

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Oral bone regeneration is challenging due to the oral environment's saliva and pathogen presence.
• Biomimetic apatites with iron ion substitution show potential for controlled bone regeneration.
• Magnetic nanoparticles offer possibilities for remote activation in regenerative scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate iron-doped apatite nanoparticles (FeHA) and magnetite nanoparticles for injectable bone regeneration scaffolds.
• To create a self-hardening, 3D superparamagnetic scaffold for enhanced bone regeneration.
• To investigate the scaffold's ability to stimulate cell behavior and bone remodeling, with and without magnetic field activation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of FeHA nanoparticles and comparison with magnetite nanoparticles.
• Incorporation of nanoparticles into an apatitic injectable paste/cement to form a self-hardening scaffold.
• Assessment of cell behavior (colonization, differentiation, alkaline phosphatase expression/activity) on the scaffold, with and without static magnetic field stimulation.

Main Results:

• The injectable cement formed a mechanically competent, 3D superparamagnetic scaffold.
• The scaffold successfully supported cell colonization and differentiation.
• Magnetic field activation of the scaffold significantly boosted cell activity and differentiation, enhancing bone regeneration potential.

Conclusions:

• FeHA nanoparticles and magnetite nanoparticles can be effectively embedded in injectable apatitic cements to create superparamagnetic scaffolds.
• These scaffolds promote cell activity and bone regeneration, with magnetic activation offering a controllable enhancement.
• This magnetic scaffold approach represents a novel strategy for on-demand bone remodeling in oral surgery, particularly for patients with impaired regenerative capacity.