【Abstract】 Objective To compare the properties of collagen membranes before and after crossl inked and to establ ish the foundation of appl ication of collagen membranes. Methods Fresh bovine tendons were separated and collagen was extracted by washing, smashing and acetic acid dissolving. The collagen protein was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer and its characteristics were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), wavelength scanning and amino acids detecting. Collagen membranes were produced by lyophil ization. And then the biocharacteristics of the membranes before and after glutaraldehyde crossl inked were compared. BMSCs separated from volunteer’s bone marrow were seeded on collagen membranes before and after crossl inked by 2×103 in 100 μL medium, seven days after culture, the absorption spectrum of BMSCs was examined, and BMSCs were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results The contents of collagen protein were 2 mg/mL. The maximum absorption wave length appeared at about 230 nm. SDS-PAGE suggested that molecularweight of main bands was more than 66.2×103, the same as collagen marker from calf skin. There were 21.47% glycine, 12.04% pral ine and 10.18% hydroxyprol ine. No tryptophan was found. Before crossl inked, collagen membranes were in shape of white sponges and with big holes and the range of pH value was from 4.5 to 5.0. SEM showed reticular conformation and pore structure of collagen membranes, but the bore diameter was bigger. Their water-absorbing capacity was 61 times as much as their weight. The mechanical strength was 210 g/cm3. The dissolution time of collagenase was 90 minutes. After crossl inked, collagen membranes became thin, colorless, semi-transparent and compact with better tenacity. Under SEM, compact collagen fiber appeared reticular. There was lower water-absorbing capacity and pH value ranged from 6.5 to 7.0. The mechanical strength was 3 400 g/cm3 and the dissolution time of collagenase became longer. BMSCs could grow better either on before-crossl inked collagen membranes or on after-crossl inked ones. Conclusion As biomaterial scaffolds, after crossl inked collagen membranes were better than before-crossl inked ones.
Objective To review the recent advances of cross-linking reagent for producing hyaluronic acid(HA) derivative so as to provide more advice for thedevelopment of HA reagent. Methods Recent original articles related to the species, characteristic, cross-linking methodology and mechanism of the cross-linking reagent to producing HA derivative were summarized and systematically analyzed. Results The derivatives after special kinds of reagents modification would remain their own good biocompatibility and change their original rheololgical characterization and obtain relative long organism residence time. Conclusion Development of hyaluronic derivatives may widen their medical application.
ObjectiveTo fabricate an injectable composite bone substitute with hyaluronic acid (HA) and calcium sulfate and to evaluate the biocompatibility and effect of the composite on cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation in vitro and osteogenic capability in vivo. MethodsCalcium sulfate powder was mixed with HA solution, cross-linked HA solution, and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) in a ratio of 2∶1 (W/V) to get composites of CA+HA, CA+HAC, and CA. The standard extracts from above 3 materials were prepared according to ISO10993-5, and were used to culture mouse MC3T3-E1 cells. The composite biocompatibility and cell proliferation in different concentrations of extract were tested with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The cells were cultured with standard medium as a control. The optimal concentration was selected for osteogenic differentiation test, and ELISA Kit was used to determine the alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I (COL-I), and osteocalcin (OCN). The femoral condylar bone defect was made on New Zealand white rabbits and repaired with CA+HA, CA+HAC, and CA. Micro-CT was done to evaluate new bone formation with bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) ratio at 6 and 12 weeks. HE staining was used to observe bone formation. ResultsCA+HA and CA+HAC were better in injectability and stability in PBS than CA. The biocompatibility test showed that absorbance (A) value of CA group was significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.05) at 6, 12, and 24 hours after culture, but no significant difference was found inA values between CA+HA group or CA+HAC group and control group (P>0.05). The proliferation test showed 25% and 50% extract of all 3 materials had significantly higherA value than control group (P<0.05). For 75% and 100% extract, only CA+HA group had significantly higherA value than control group (P<0.05). And 50% extract was selected for osteogenic differentiation test. At 14 and 21 days, ALP, COL-I and OCN concentrations of CA+HA group and CA+HAC group were significantly higher than those of CA group and control group (P<0.05). Micro-CT results showed higher BV/TV in CA+HA group and CA+HAC group than CA group at 6 and 12 weeks (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between CA+HA group and CA+HAC group (P>0.05). HE staining revealed that a little bone tissue was seen in CA+HA group and CA+HAC group, but there was no bone formation in CA group at 6 weeks; more streak bone tissue in CA+HA group and CA+HAC group than CA group at 12 weeks. ConclusionComposites prepared with calcium sulfate and HA or with cross-linked HA are stable, injectable, and biocompatible. The materials have excellent effect on proliferation and differentiation of mouse MC3T3-E1 cells. They also show good osteogenic capability in vivo. So it is a potential bone substitutes for bone defective diseases.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of modification of acellular bovine pericardium with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dinethylami-nopropyl) carbodimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccininide (NHS) or genipin and find out the best crosslinking reagent. MethodsThe cellular components of the bovine pericardiums were removed. The effects of decellularization were tested by HE staining. The acellular bovine pericardiums were crosslinked with EDC/NHS (EDC/NHS group) or genipin (genipin group). The properties of the crosslinked acellular matrix were evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), matrix thickness, crosslinking index, mechanical property, denaturation temperature, enzymatic degradation, and cytotoxicity test before and after the crosslinking. Acellular bovine pericardium (ABP group) or normal bovine pericardium (control group) were harvested as controls. ResultsSEM showed that collagen fibers were reticulated in bovine pericardial tissues after crosslinked by EDC/NHS or genipin, and relative aperture of the collagen fiber was from 10 to 20 μm. The thickness and denaturation temperature of the scaffolds were increased significantly after crosslinking with EDC/NHS or genipin (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between EDC/NHS group and genipin group (P>0.05). The difference had no statistical significance in crosslinking index between EDC/NHS group and genipin group (t=0.205, P=0.218). The degradation rate in EDC/NHS group and genipin group was significantly lower than that in ABP group and control group (P<0.05). Elastic modulus and fracture stress in EDC/NHS group and genipin group were significantly lower than those in ABP group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among EDC/NHS group, genipin group, and control group (P>0.05). The break elongation in EDC/NHS group and genipin group were significantly increased than those in ABP group and control group (P<0.05). The difference had no statistical significance in stability and mechanical properties between EDC/NHS group and genipin group (P>0.05). Cytotoxicity of genipin crosslinked tissue (grade 1) were much lower than that of EDC/NHS (grade 2) at 5 days. ConclusionAcellular bovine pericardium crosslinked with genipin has better biocompatibility than EDC/NHS.
Decellularized tissue engineering scaffolds appear to have the properties of similar structure and mechanical characteristics to native tissues，good biocompatibility，suitability for cell adhesion，growth and angiogenesis induction，and non-immunogenicity. Genipin has anti-inflammatory，antithrombotic and antioxidative features which can considerably suppress vascular and endothelial inflammatory activation，increase mechanical strength of biological scaffolds，inhibit inflammatory response and decrease degradation rate of biological scaffolds. By cross-linking with decellularized matrices，Genipin can further improve corresponding performance of tissue engineering matrices，which is very helpful to promote the application of tissue engineering into clinical practice of cardiothoracic surgery. This review focuses on recent research process and possible prospects of Genipin cross-linking in tissue engineering in the field of cardiothoracic surgery.
China is the country with high incidence of high myopia in the world. High myopia can cause severe vision impairment. So far, there is no effective treatment for high myopia in clinic. Scleral collagen cross-linking surgery has been proven to be effective in preventing animal eye axial elongation in vitro and in vivo. However, the influence of posterior scleral collagen cross-linking on the deformation of the whole eyeball is still unclear. In this study, finite element simulation were used to analyze the changes of eyeball shape and the position of light casting on the retina after posterior sclera cross-linking, and the mathematical algorithm was written to verify their similarity. The results showed that the shape of the whole eyeball was still very similar before and after cross-linking, and the diopter of the eyeball after cross-linking had little change, which had almost no effect on the position of light projection on the retina. Our results indicate that posterior sclera cross-linking wouldn’t lead to distortion to the optometry, that is, the increase of elastic modulus in local scleral tissue after cross-linking wouldn’t cause new problem of optometry and vision.
Abstract: Objective Using Amplex red fluorometric assay to detect the lysyl oxidase (LOX) enzyme activity in tissue engineered heart valve (TEHV). Methods Porcine aortic valves were decellularized with trypsin+ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA), TritonX-100, and RNaseⅠ＋DNaseⅠ, then they were seeded by myo-fibroblasts that harvested from rats. Then they were fed with Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM) which contained high glucose for 27 days, they were fed with phenol red-free and serumfree DMEM for 24 hours, and the medium was harvested and used for LOX enzyme activity assays with the Amplex red fluorometric assay. And reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used to analyze the expression of LOXmRNA in TEHV. Results All the samples produced measurable amounts of active LOX enzyme. The fluorescence units were 45.60±1.66, and the corresponding concentration of LOX enzyme were 0.123±0.003μg/ml. At the same time, all the samples expressed LOXmRNA. The expression of LOXmRNA was corresponding to the results of the Amplex red fluorometric assay. Conclusion It is feasible to detect the LOX enzyme activity in TEHV with the Amplex red fluorometric assay. And this assay gives a way to reflect that LOX plays an important role in collagen cross-linking of extracellar matrix in TEHV.
Objective To review the application of genipin for the modification of natural biomaterials as a crosslinking agent and progress in research. Methods Domestic and foreign literature on application of genipin for the modification of natural biomaterials as a crosslinking agent was thoroughly reviewed. Results Genipin is an effective natural crosslinking agent with a very low level of cytotoxicity compared with conventional synthetic crosslinking agents. Tissues fixed with genipin can maintain a high level of stability as well as resistance to enzymatic degradation. Conclusion Genipin is a promising substitute for conventional synthetic crosslinking agents, which has offered an alternative for modification of natural biomaterials for tissue engineering.
Objective To investigate the physicochemical properties of pure titanium surface grafted with chlorhexidine (CHX) by phenolamine coating, and to evaluate its antibacterial activity and osteoblast-compatibility in vitro. MethodsControl group was obtained by alkali and thermal treatment, and then immersed in the mixture of epigallocatechin-3-gallate/hexamethylene diamine (coating group). Phenolamine coating was deposited on the surface, and then it was immersed in CHX solution to obtain the grafted surface of CHX (grafting group). The surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope, the surface element composition was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the surface hydrophilicity was measured by water contact angle test. Live/dead bacterial staining, nephelometery, and inhibition zone method were executed to evaluate the antibacterial property. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay and cell fluorescence staining. Bacteria-MC3T3-E1 cells co‐culture was conducted to evaluate the cell viability on the samples under the circumstance with bacteria. Results Scanning electron microscope observation results showed that deposits of coating group and grafting group increased successively and gradually covered the porous structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed the peak of N1s enhanced and the peak of Cl2p appeared in grafting group. Water contact angle test results showed that the hydrophilic angle of three groups increased in turn, and there was significant difference between groups (P<0.05). Live/dead bacteria staining results showed that the grafting group had the least amount of bacteria adhered to the surface and the proportion of dead bacteria was high. The grafting group had a transparent inhibition zone around it and the absorbance (A) value did not increase, showing significant difference when compared with control group and coating group (P<0.05). MTT assay and cell fluorescence staining results showed that the number of adherent cells on the surface of the grafting group was the least, but the adherent cells had good proliferation activity. Bacteria-cell co-culture results showed that there was no bacteria on the surface of grafting group but live cells adhered well. ConclusionCHX-grafted phenolamine coating has the ability to inhibit bacterial adhesion and proliferation, and effectively protect cell adhesion and proliferation in a bacterial environment.