Journal of Functional Biomaterials最新文献

Environmental protection issues have received widespread attention, making material recycling increasingly important. The upcycling of polysulfone (PSF) medical waste, recognized as a high-performance plastic with excellent mechanical properties, deserves promotion. While PSF is suitable for use as an orthopedic implant material, such as internal fixation, its osteogenesis capabilities must be enhanced. Mechanical stability, particularly over the long term, is a significant concern for bone implants in load-bearing applications. This study recycled PSF medical waste to create bone composites by incorporating osteogenic calcium silicate (CaSi) at three different contents: 10%, 20%, and 30%. We evaluated the phase, morphology, weight loss, and three-point bending strength of the PSF-based composites after they were soaked in dynamic simulated body fluid (SBF) at pH levels of 7.4 and 5.0 for up to 12 months. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were utilized to assess the osteogenic activity of these composites. Our findings revealed that, while the bending strength of PSF-based composites declined with prolonged exposure to SBF, the dissolution of CaSi particles led to a manageable weight loss of about 4% after 12 months, regardless of pH 7.4 or 5.0. Importantly, the incorporation of CaSi into the PSF matrix exhibited a positive effect on the attachment and proliferation of hMSCs. The levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and calcium deposits directly correlated with the CaSi content, indicating superior osteogenic activity. Considering biostability and osteogenic ability, the 20% CaSi-PSF composite demonstrated promise as a candidate for load-bearing implant applications.

To overcome limitations of dentin bonding due to collagen degradation at a bonded interface, incorporating bioactive glass (BAG) into dentin adhesives has been proposed to enhance remineralization and improve bonding durability. This study evaluated sol-gel-derived BAGs (BAG79, BAG87, BAG91, and BAG79F) and conventional melt-quenched BAG (BAG45) incorporated into dentin adhesive to assess their remineralization and mechanical properties. The BAGs were characterized by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy for surface morphology. The surface area was measured by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed to determine the crystalline structure of the BAGs. Adhesive surface analysis was performed after approximating each experimental dentin adhesive and demineralized dentin by using FE-SEM. The elastic modulus of the treated dentin was measured after BAG-containing dentin adhesive application. The sol-gel-derived BAGs exhibited larger surface areas (by 400-600 times) than conventional BAG, with BAG87 displaying the largest surface area. XRD analysis indicated more pronounced and rapid formation of hydroxyapatite in the sol-gel BAGs. Dentin with BAG87-containing adhesive exhibited the highest elastic modulus. The incorporation of sol-gel-derived BAGs, especially BAG87, into dentin adhesives enhances the remineralization and mechanical properties of adhesive-dentin interfaces.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) following spinal instrumentation surgery are among the most concerning complications. This study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of a new treatment approach for SSIs that includes a single-stage approach with the removal of the previous hardware, accurate debridement, and single-stage instrumentation using a silver fixation system (SFS) made of titanium alloy coated with silver (Norm Medical, Ankara, Turkey) by means of a retrospective observational study. Materials and Methods: The demographic data, type of surgery, comorbidities, pathogens, and treatment details of consecutive patients with an SSI who received the SFS between 2018 and 2021 were extracted from their medical records and analyzed. The patients treated with the SFS for primary pyogenic infections were excluded. The patients were re-evaluated at multiple endpoints in order to assess the rate of reinfection and the local and general complications. Results: Fifty-six patients were treated with the SFS and thirty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. Out of those 34 patients, the rate of infection recurrence or insurgence after the implantation of the SFS was 11.8%, with infection detected in 4 out of 34 cases and mechanical problems detected in 2 of the 34 cases (5.9%). The overall success rate in controlling infection recurrence or emergence was 88.2% (30 out of 34 cases). The overall survival rate of the SFS was 87%, 78%, and 71% at one, two, and three years, respectively. Conclusions: The surgical strategy with the SFS demonstrated promising outcomes in preventing infection recurrence or insurgence, with a low incidence of mechanical complications. However, further structured and comprehensive studies are essential for validating these initial findings.

The application of three-dimensional (3D) printing/bioprinting technologies and cell therapies has garnered significant attention due to their potential in the field of regenerative medicine. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of 3D printing/bioprinting technology and cell therapies, highlighting their results in diverse medical applications, while also discussing the capabilities and limitations of their combined use. The synergistic combination of 3D printing and cellular therapies has been recognised as a promising and innovative approach, and it is expected that these technologies will progressively assume a crucial role in the treatment of various diseases and conditions in the foreseeable future. This review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the future impact of these technologies, highlighting their potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine through enhanced tissue repair and organ replacement strategies.

This study focuses on the development and evaluation of the OrthoNail hybrid intramedullary implant for lower limb lengthening in patients requiring significant skeletal reconstruction. The implant addresses the challenges in load-bearing during rehabilitation, providing a robust solution that is capable of supporting physiological loads. Mechanical tests, including axial compression, tension, torsion, and 3,4-point bending, determined the implant's load capacity and fatigue resistance, while finite element analysis assessed stress distributions in bone tissue and around screw holes during single-leg stance, with boundary conditions derived from Orthoload database data. The OrthoNail implant demonstrated excellent mechanical stability, sustaining torsional loads of up to 19.36 Nm at maximum elongation (80 mm) and 17.16 Nm at zero elongation. Under axial compression, it withstood forces of up to 1400 N, maintaining structural integrity. Fatigue testing revealed resilience under dynamic loading conditions for over 1,000,000 cycles at a load of 500 N, with no mechanical failure or material degradation observed. Stress concentrations near screw holes indicate areas for potential optimization. The findings indicate that the OrthoNail implant demonstrates excellent mechanical stability and is well-suited for clinical application, enabling early full weight-bearing during rehabilitation.

The increasing interest in developing biodegradable polymers through chemical treatments, microorganisms, and enzymes highlights a commitment to environmentally friendly disposal methods [...].

Autoimmune diseases present complex therapeutic challenges due to their chronic nature, systemic impact, and requirement for precise immunomodulation to avoid adverse side effects. Recent advancements in biodegradable and stimuli-responsive nanomaterials have opened new avenues for targeted drug delivery systems capable of addressing these challenges. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of state-of-the-art biodegradable nanocarriers such as polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, and hydrogels engineered for targeted delivery in autoimmune therapies. These nanomaterials are designed to degrade safely in the body while releasing therapeutic agents in response to specific stimuli, including pH, temperature, redox conditions, and enzymatic activity. By achieving localized and controlled release of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents, these systems minimize systemic toxicity and enhance therapeutic efficacy. We discuss the underlying mechanisms of stimuli-responsive nanomaterials, recent applications in treating diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease, and the design considerations essential for clinical translation. Additionally, we address current challenges, including biocompatibility, scalability, and regulatory hurdles, as well as future directions for integrating advanced nanotechnology with personalized medicine in autoimmune treatment. This review highlights the transformative potential of biodegradable and stimuli-responsive nanomaterials, presenting them as a promising strategy to advance precision medicine and improve patient outcomes in autoimmune disease management.

Oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, and oral cancer are prevalent and present significant challenges to global public health. Although these diseases are typically treated through procedures like dental preparation and resin filling, scaling and root planning, or surgical excision, these interventions are often not entirely effective, and postoperative drug therapy is usually required. Traditional drug treatments, however, are limited by factors such as poor drug penetration, significant side effects, and the development of drug resistance. As a result, there is a growing need for novel drug delivery systems that can enhance therapeutic efficacy, reduce side effects, and improve treatment outcomes. In recent years, drug-loaded vesicles, such as liposomes, polymersomes, and extracellular vesicles (EVs), have emerged as promising drug delivery platforms due to their high drug encapsulation efficiency, controlled release properties, and excellent biocompatibility. This review provides an in-depth examination of the characteristics, advantages, and limitations of liposomes, polymersomes, and extracellular vesicles in the context of oral disease treatment. It further explores the reasons for their advantages and limitations and discusses the specific applications, development prospects, and strategies for optimizing these vesicle-based systems for improved clinical outcomes.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the shear bond strength of different universal adhesives applied to intact, demineralized, and remineralized enamel surfaces with total-etch and self-etch modes and to examine the effect of universal adhesives on the Ca/P mineral atomic and mass ratios of these enamel with FE-SEM/EDX (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy) analysis. For this study, 264 bovine incisors were used. Samples in the demineralized and remineralized groups were kept in demineralization solution at 37 °C for 96 h to make an artificial initial carious lesion. After demineralization, half of the demineralized samples were remineralized with MI Paste Plus. For shear bond strength (n = 144) and FE-SEM/EDX analysis (n = 120), G-Premio Bond and Clearfil S³ Bond Universal were applied on enamel surfaces with total-etch and self-etch modes, and bond strength samples were restored with resin composite. All samples were tested. The results were evaluated statistically by a three-way ANOVA test. The shear bond strength of the remineralized enamel showed high bond strength values comparable to intact enamel for universal adhesive systems. The Ca/P mineral atomic and mass ratios in remineralized enamel showed higher values than demineralized enamel, similar to intact enamel for universal adhesive systems. Initial carious lesion surfaces are unsuitable enamel surfaces for restoration. The remineralization of this surface layer before adhesive procedures may positively affect bond strength.

Magnesium alloys are promising biomaterials to be used as temporary implants due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The main limitation in the use of these alloys is their rapid biodegradation. Moreover, the risk of microbial infections, often following the implant surgery and hard to eradicate, is another challenge. Thus, with the aim of reducing biodegradability and conferring antibiofilm activity, sheets of the magnesium alloy AZ31 were properly modified with the introduction of hydroxy (polyethyleneoxy)propyl silane (PEG) and quaternary ammonium silane chains (QAS). The derivatized sheets were characterized by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and their performances as concerns their stability, Mg²⁺ in vitro release, and in vitro bioactivity were evaluated as well. The results showed an increased stability with a reduction in corrosion, a slower Mg²⁺ ion release, and the formation of hydroxyapatite in the sheets' surface. In addition, cytotoxicity evaluations were carried out on human gingival fibroblasts showing that the AZ31 and AZ31-PEG plates had good cytocompatibility. Finally, the antibiofilm activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was carried out by evaluating the capacity of inhibition of biofilm adhesion and formation. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis on AZ31-QAS.