Argon plasma modified nanocomposite polyurethane scaffolds provide an alternative strategy for cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract

Background Children born with a small or absent ear undergo surgical reconstruction to create a suitable replacement using rib cartilage. To overcome the donor site morbidity and long-term pain of harvesting rib cartilage, synthetic materials can be a useful alternative. Medpor, is the currently used synthetic polyethylene material to replace missing facial cartilage but unfortunately it has high levels of surgical complications including infection and extrusion, making it an unsuitable replacement. New materials for facial cartilage reconstruction are required to improve the outcomes of surgical reconstruction. This study has developed a new nanomaterial with argon surface modification for auricular cartilage replacement to overcome the complications with Medpor. Results Polyurethanes nanocomposites scaffolds (PU) were modified with argon plasma surface modification (Ar) and compared to Medpor in vitro and in vivo. Ar scaffolds allowed for greater protein adsorption than Medpor and PU after 48 h (p < 0.05). Cell viability and DNA assays demonstrated over 14-days greater human dermal fibroblast adhesion and cell growth on Ar than PU and Medpor nanocomposites scaffolds (p < 0.05). Gene expression using RT-qPCR of collagen-I, fibronectin, elastin, and laminin was upregulated on Ar scaffolds compared to Medpor and PU after 14-days (p < 0.05). Medpor, unmodified polyurethane and plasma modified polyurethane scaffolds were subcutaneously implanted in the dorsum of mice for 12 weeks to assess tissue integration and angiogenesis. Subcutaneous implantation of Ar scaffolds in mice dorsum, demonstrated significantly greater tissue integration by H&E and Massons trichrome staining, as well as angiogenesis by CD31 vessel immunohistochemistry staining over 12-weeks (p < 0.05). Conclusions Argon modified polyurethane nanocomposite scaffolds support cell attachment and growth, tissue integration and angiogenesis and are a promising alternative for facial cartilage replacement. This study demonstrates polyurethane nanocomposite scaffolds with argon surface modification are a promising biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering applications. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12951-019-0477-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

CD34+CD146+ adipose-derived stromal cells enhance engraftment of transplanted fat

“…To ensure large areas of the fat graft were assessed, tiled (3 × 3) z-stacked (8 μm deep) fluorescent images were taken. To quantify graft vascularization, the percent of pixels positive for CD31 staining was calculated for five representative regions of interest (ROIs) of equal areausing ImageJ software (https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/) following methods previously described [24][25][26][27][28]. A threshold was used to select pixels occupied by blood vessels, represented by CD31 staining, and the image was binarized by converting the blood vessels to white (pixel value 255) and background pixels to black (pixel value 0) to form a "mask" of positive CD31 staining.…”

Tissue engineering applications in otolaryngology—The state of translation

“…However, a prosthesis can extrude and, although biocompatible, cartilage autografts increase donor site morbidity and may not provide optimal size and function match. Reconstruction of the external ear is a technically challenging, surgeon dependent, multistage procedure which requires multiple costal cartilage segments to be harvested, putting the patient at repeated risk of donor site morbidity 38 . Finally, the arrangement of cartilage can warp over time and lead to poor long‐term outcomes.…”

“…Heatmap representing the proportion of publications by year that utilized specific translational research methodologies from construct characterization to human trial to investigate otologic tissue engineering 15,25‐35,38‐43,45,46,107‐144 …”

HA-coated collagen nanofibers for urethral regeneration via in situ polarization of M2 macrophages

“…Compared with the pancake-like M1 cells, cell elongation induced macrophage polarization to the M2-phenotype. In addition, elongation enhanced the effect of M2-induced cytokines and inhibited M1-induced cytokines, indicating that cell shape plays an essential role in regulating macrophage phenotype polarization [ 23 ]. Therefore, the development of RM scaffolds regulating macrophage elongation may promote tissue regeneration and regulate hollow organs’ structural remodeling.…”