Osteoclast-regulatory biomaterials: Direct cellular intervention and indirect microenvironment modulation.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Pathology

Background:

• Osteoclasts are key effector cells in osteolytic diseases, with their activity influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
• Aberrant osteoclast activation contributes to various pathological bone conditions.
• Current interventions for osteolytic diseases often target osteoclast activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current biomaterial strategies for regulating osteoclast activity.
• To organize these strategies within a pathology-oriented framework.
• To propose future directions for osteoclast-regulatory biomaterials, emphasizing self-adaptiveness.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of osteoclast biology and biomaterial strategies.
• Categorization of biomaterial approaches based on their regulatory mechanisms (direct/indirect).
• Discussion of emerging evaluation platforms for biomaterial assessment.

Main Results:

• Biomaterial strategies can directly regulate osteoclast commitment, maturation, function, and survival.
• Indirect regulation involves modulating the osteoimmune, stromal, physicochemical, and organ-bone axes.
• Self-adaptiveness is identified as a crucial future direction for enhanced pathological control.

Conclusions:

• Biomaterials offer promising avenues for managing osteolytic diseases by targeting osteoclasts.
• A pathology-oriented framework aids in understanding and designing effective biomaterial interventions.
• Future biomaterials should incorporate self-adaptive properties for improved therapeutic outcomes in osteoclast-related disorders.