Hydrogels that allow and facilitate bone repair, remodeling, and regeneration

Abstract

Bone defects can originate from a variety of causes, including trauma, cancer, congenital deformity, and surgical reconstruction. Success of the current “gold standard” treatment (i.e., autologous bone grafts) is greatly influenced by insufficient or inappropriate bone stock. There is thus a critical need for the development of new, engineered materials for bone repair. This review describes the use of natural and synthetic hydrogels as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. We discuss many of the advantages that hydrogels offer as bone repair materials, including their potential for osteoconductivity, biodegradability, controlled growth factor release, and cell encapsulation. We also discuss the use of hydrogels in composite devices with metals, ceramics, or polymers. These composites are useful because of the low mechanical moduli of hydrogels. Finally, the potential for thermosetting and photo-cross-linked hydrogels as three-dimensionally (3D) printed, patient-specific devices is highlighted. Three-dimensional printing enables controlled spatial distribution of scaffold materials, cells, and growth factors. Hydrogels, especially natural hydrogels present in bone matrix, have great potential to augment existing bone tissue engineering devices for the treatment of critical size bone defects.

Photocrosslinkable and elastomeric hydrogels for bone regeneration

“…However, most of these nanocomposite scaffolds are designed for use as scaffolds and very few studies focus on engineering nanocomposite hydrogels that can be easily injected. Injectable hydrogels are emerging as an effective tool for delivery of a range of moieties including stem cells, gene delivery vectors, and drugs for various clinical treatments . These injectable networks can be shaped or casted into various sizes and shapes useful for minimally invasive therapies to facilitate bone repair, remodeling, and regeneration.…”

“…Injectable hydrogels are emerging as an effective tool for delivery of a range of moieties including stem cells, gene delivery vectors, and drugs for various clinical treatments. [43][44][45][46] These injectable networks can be shaped or casted into various sizes and shapes useful for minimally invasive therapies to facilitate bone repair, remodeling, and regeneration. Additionally, the effect of addition of nHAp on osteogenic differentiation of cells has not been investigated.…”

Bacterial sensitivity assessment of multifunctional polymeric coatings for airway stents

“…Modifications and synthesis of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), and their copolymer ratios are widely used in medicine ranging from structural cardiovascular applications to drug delivery . Recent advancements in photochemical crosslinking of Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) have been developed for orthopedic and oncological applications …”

“…[23][24][25] Recent advancements in photochemical crosslinking of Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) have been developed for orthopedic and oncological applications. 26,27 Using the same technique of initiator substitution, ciprofloxacin, was investigated as a possible initiator with therapeutic potential. Ciprofloxacin has a lower molecular weight than gadodiamide, but contains halogen fluorine.…”

Carboxylated Agarose (CA)-Silk Fibroin (SF) Dual Confluent Matrices Containing Oriented Hydroxyapatite (HA) Crystals: Biomimetic Organic/Inorganic Composites for Tibia Repair

“…[1][2][3] All the biomaterials for bone tissue engineering should follow the principles of mimicking the structure and function of natural bone tissues.…”