Applications of Metals for Bone Regeneration

Abstract

The regeneration of bone tissue is the main purpose of most therapies in dental medicine. For bone regeneration, calcium phosphate (CaP)-based substitute materials based on natural (allo- and xenografts) and synthetic origins (alloplastic materials) are applied for guiding the regeneration processes. The optimal bone substitute has to act as a substrate for bone ingrowth into a defect, as well as resorb in the time frame needed for complete regeneration up to the condition of restitution ad integrum. In this context, the modes of action of CaP-based substitute materials have been frequently investigated, where it has been shown that such materials strongly influence regenerative processes such as osteoblast growth or differentiation and also osteoclastic resorption due to different physicochemical properties of the materials. However, the material characteristics needed for the required ratio between new bone tissue formation and material degradation has not been found, until now. The addition of different substances such as collagen or growth factors and also of different cell types has already been tested but did not allow for sufficient or prompt application. Moreover, metals or metal ions are used differently as a basis or as supplement for different materials in the field of bone regeneration. Moreover, it has already been shown that different metal ions are integral components of bone tissue, playing functional roles in the physiological cellular environment as well as in the course of bone healing. The present review focuses on frequently used metals as integral parts of materials designed for bone regeneration, with the aim to provide an overview of currently existing knowledge about the effects of metals in the field of bone regeneration.

Bone Tissue Engineering via Carbon‐Based Nanomaterials

“…Second, due to the lack of integration with host tissues, metallic scaffolds generally could not integrate biomolecules around. Third, although there have been reports showing that metal ions released from the metallic scaffolds sometimes could promote osteoinduction and osteoconduction by serving as structural components of bone forming enzymes and proteins; there are still enormous concerns over the toxic metallic ions and particles release. Currently, it is impossible to control the release of metallic ions to ensure that the concentrations of released ions do not exceed the desired levels.…”

Iron oxides nanoparticles (IOs) exposed to magnetic field promote expression of osteogenic markers in osteoblasts through integrin alpha-3 (INTa-3) activation, inhibits osteoclasts activity and exerts anti-inflammatory action

“…The bone formation and bone resorption processes might be mediated by external factors including magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IOs) [13,14]. Ferrite nanoparticles belong to the most common applied magnetics nanoparticles for biomedical applications [15].…”

Combating Implant Infections: Shifting Focus from Bacteria to Host

“…[260,261] Moreover, several observations have extended their biological actions toward proregenerative effects. [262,263] Foremost, pro-osteogenic effects are mediated by directly favoring osteoblast differentiation or priming macrophages in their crosstalk with osteoblasts. [264][265][266] As these are all key processes underlying the fate of a biomaterial, the use of metal nanoparticles as immunomodulatory agents could revive their application in future biomaterials design.…”