Aug 2026· In Vivo· Vol 40, pp. 2670 - 2687· 0 citations· 51 references
Medicine
Abstract
Background/Aim: Magnesium-based alloys are promising materials for fabrication of bioresorbable medical devices. The application is limited by rapid degradation and associated adverse tissue responses. In this study, nanometer-thin composite polyelectrolyte/wax (PEM/W) coatings were fabricated on magnesium-based implant prototypes to delay their degradation. Materials and Methods: Coatings were applied using a layer-by-layer technique. Cytocompatibility was assessed according to DIN ISO 10993-5 using NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Degradation behavior was monitored by high-resolution micro-computed tomography (μ-CT), while tissue compatibility and host responses were evaluated histologically following DIN EN ISO 10993-6. Results: The coatings were continuous, hydrophobic (water contact angles exceeding 100°), with sub-micrometer thicknesses and were found to improve in vitro cytocompatibility of magnesium biomaterials. In vivo evaluation using a rat subcutaneous implantation model demonstrated that the effectiveness of magnesium degradation modulation depends on the type of employed PEM. Micro-computed tomography analyses revealed that the hyaluronic acid/chitosan/wax coating provided the most robust protection over 60 days, exhibiting the lowest volume loss and superior preservation of implant geometry compared to the uncoated samples. Correspondingly, hydrogen-related gas cavity formation was reduced and temporally delayed in coated implants, indicating a more controlled degradation process. Histopathological analysis shows a moderate inflammatory response characteristic of biodegradable metallic implants, dominated by macrophages and lymphocytes. Importantly, coated implants were associated with reduced late-stage fibrosis and necrosis compared to uncoated magnesium. Conclusion: Overall, composite PEM/W coatings, especially those based on natural polyelectrolytes, represent a promising surface-engineering strategy for improving the safety and performance of resorbable magnesium implants.
The multifunctional coating provides sustained antimicrobial activity alongside immunomodulatory and pro-regenerative effects, supporting its potential to treat implant-related infections while enhancing peri-implant soft tissue remodeling.
Mariana Martins Guerreiro, Amanda Paino Santana, D. M. Cunha et al.· Journal of Periodontal Resea...· 0 citations
PURPOSE
Titanium implants are widely used in prosthodontics, but their bioinert surfaces can limit early osseointegration. This study examined whether electrolyte-tuned anodization can tailor TiO2 nanotube (TNT) coatings to improve in vitro osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and inflammation-related responses.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Titanium was anodized in three electrolytes to produce TNT, TNT-H, and TNT-B coatings. Morphology and roughness were assessed by scanning electron microscope, phase/chemistry by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and wettability by contact angle. Cytocompatibility and functional responses were evaluated using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and RAW264.7 cells, including viability/adhesion assays, macrophage polarization and cytokine expression, and osteogenic/angiogenic assays.
RESULTS
TNT-B (mean pore diameter ∼188 nm) showed the most consistent improvements across endpoints, enhancing cell adhesion/proliferation, osteogenesis-associated markers, and angiogenesis-associated signals in vitro, while reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and promoting M2-skewed polarization. TNT-H showed measurable responses versus TNT but did not outperform TNT-B in angiogenic assays under the tested conditions. XRD/XPS indicated minor Ti6O- and defect-related signatures in TNT-B that are relevant to these responses. After annealing, corrosion resistance ranked TNT-H > TNT-B > TNT.
CONCLUSIONS
Electrolyte modulation enables the controllable fabrication of TNT architectures and surface chemistry. TNT-B demonstrates promising in vitro performance but exhibits reduced electrochemical stability relative to TNT-H, highlighting a bioactivity-stability trade-off and the need for further optimization and validation before clinical use.
Zhengyang Xing, Rui Chao, Xitong Tu et al.· Journal of Prosthodontics· 0 citations
BACKGROUND
Boron nanoparticles (BNPs) have attracted increasing interest as additives in dental biomaterials due to their antimicrobial activity, chemical stability, and reinforcing potential. Although various nanoparticles have been incorporated into maxillofacial silicone elastomers to improve mechanical and antimicrobial performance, the cytocompatibility of BNP-modified systems remains insufficiently investigated. This study evaluated the concentration-dependent effects of BNP incorporation on the cytocompatibility of two clinically used maxillofacial silicone elastomers.
METHODS
Sixty disc-shaped specimens (2 mm × Ø 5 mm; n = 10/group) were fabricated from two room-temperature vulcanizing silicone elastomers (A-2000 and A-2006) incorporating BNPs at 0%, 1 wt%, and 3 wt%. Cytocompatibility was assessed using an MTT assay on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), which were selected as the test model due to their direct and prolonged contact with maxillofacial prostheses. Material eluates were used for cellular exposure at 24 and 48 h of incubation. Surface morphology and nanoparticle distribution were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to correlate surface characteristics with biological responses.
RESULTS
At 24 h, cell viability in 1 wt% BNP groups was comparable to controls (A-2000-1%: 0.39 ± 0.04 vs. A-2000 control: 0.40 ± 0.04; p > 0.05), whereas 3 wt% BNP groups - particularly A-2006-3% (0.21 ± 0.02) - showed significantly reduced viability compared to controls (p < 0.001). At 48 h, no statistically significant differences were observed among any group (p = 0.26), and all groups exhibited cell viability above the ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity threshold. A significant within-group decrease in viability from 24 to 48 h was observed in the A-2000 control and A-2000-1% groups (p < 0.001), attributable to cell-culture dynamics rather than material cytotoxicity. SEM revealed smooth surfaces in control groups, mild irregularities with dispersed nanoparticle clusters at 1 wt%, and pronounced surface roughness with particulate accumulations at 3 wt%, indicating concentration-dependent nanoparticle agglomeration.
CONCLUSIONS
BNP incorporation influenced cytocompatibility in a concentration-dependent manner. Incorporation at 1 wt% preserved cytocompatibility in both silicone systems, whereas 3 wt% was associated with a transient reduction in cell viability, likely related to nanoparticle agglomeration and early burst-release behavior. Differences observed between A-2000 and A-2006 suggest that polymer matrix characteristics modulate the biological effects of nanoparticle incorporation. These findings indicate that BNP concentration and matrix properties are key determinants of early cellular responses in nanoparticle-modified maxillofacial silicone systems.
Esra Nur Avukat, Naim Berker Altuntaş, C. Akay et al.· BMC Oral Health· 0 citations
Biomedical membranes are among the most widely used biomaterials in clinical regenerative medicine due to their ease of application, biocompatibility, and versatility across multiple tissues. However, conventional membranes have been limited to passive roles serving as physical barriers or wound coverings without an intrinsic capability to initiate or orchestrate true tissue regeneration. Here, we report the design, development, and clinical validation of an active tissue-regenerative biomedical membrane patch, aiming to advance biomedical membranes from passive protection toward active human tissue regeneration. In this study, we developed a multifunctional, collagen-coated polylactic-co-glycolic acid nanotopographical scaffold (Col-NS) that mimics the native extracellular matrix to enhance soft- and hard-tissue regeneration. In a clinical trial for laser-induced human skin injury, Col-NS substantially improved healing outcomes, achieving accelerated wound contraction, dermal volume restoration, reduced surface roughness, and decreased transepidermal water loss relative to standard care. In human dental procedures, including alveolar ridge preservation and guided bone regeneration, Col-NS enabled robust bone formation, stable implant osseointegration, and complication-free recovery. These findings demonstrate the translational feasibility of an extracellular-matrix-mimetic nanoengineered scaffold across soft- and hard-tissue applications and support its potential as a clinically relevant platform for regenerative medicine. This work may contribute to broadening the clinical role of biomedical patches from passive coverings toward active regenerative platforms.
W. Kim, Sangbaek Park, S. Beom et al.· Biomaterials Research· 0 citations
The feasibility of integrating DEXA into a controlled drug release system for bone tissue engineering applications is demonstrated, and the FFF-compatible 1% DEXA–PLA CF retains physicochemical integrity after DEXA incorporation and enables sustained local DEXA delivery within a biologically active concentration range, achieving dual osteogenic and immunomodulatory effects.
S. Bianconi, Cem Asci, Fiona Ott et al.· International Journal of Bio...· 0 citations
Biodegradable zinc (Zn)-based implants are emerging as one of the leading candidate materials for orthopedic applications owing to their favorable degradation behavior and mechanical properties; however, their clinical translation is delayed by insufficient surface bioactivity. In this study, a multifunctional composite coating incorporating strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) was fabricated on Zn implants via a redox-assisted co-deposition strategy. This method harnesses the strong oxidizing power of permanganate to controllably dissolve the Zn substrate, facilitating the gradient incorporation of Ca2⁺ and Sr2⁺ through hydroxyl-mediated cross-linking and resulting in a composite structure with a concentration gradient. The process is completed within 30 min under mild temperature and atmospheric pressure without the need for specialized equipment. The coating operates through a dual mechanism: it regulates the degradation behavior of the Zn substrate and modulates Zn2⁺ release kinetics to mitigate cytotoxicity from excessive local ion concentrations, while simultaneously leveraging the synergistic effects of Ca2⁺ and Sr2⁺ to enhance hemocompatibility and long-term cytocompatibility. Moreover, the coating promotes osteogenic activity by activating osteogenesis-related signaling pathways and stimulating cell adhesion, spreading, migration, and differentiation, alongside conferring antibacterial properties, thus achieving a balanced osteogenic-antimicrobial functionality. This surface modification strategy offers a novel and scalable approach for engineering biodegradable Zn-based implants, demonstrating strong potential for clinical translation in orthopedics.
Guorui Zhang, Changping Wang, Hongjie Ding et al.· Colloids and Surfaces B: Bio...· 0 citations
