Maryam Montazerolghaem

Sustained release of simvastatin from premixed injectable calcium phosphate cement

Locally applied simvastatin is known to promote bone regeneration; however, the lack of suitable delivery systems has restricted its clinical use. In this study we demonstrate for the first time the use of premixed acidic calcium phosphate cement (CPC) as a delivery system for water-solubilized simvastatin. Freeze-dried simvastatin β-hydroxy acid (SVA) was added to the premixed cement paste in four different doses (1, 0.5, 0.25, and 0 mg SVA/g cement). The addition of the drug did not alter the cement setting time (38 min), compression strength (5.54 MPa), or diametral tensile strength (2.62 MPa). In a release study conducted in phosphate buffered saline at 37°C, a diffusion-controlled release was observed for over a week. Furthermore, the osteogenic effect of the released SVA was demonstrated in vitro. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineralization were assayed after incubation with cement extracts. The lower doses of SVA (0.5 and 0.25 mg SVA/g cement) showed an approximately fourfold increase in mineralization as compared to the control. In conclusion, our findings suggest that premixed acidic CPC is a good option for local delivery of SVA, due to its ability of slowly releasing the drug, leading to a prolonged stimulation of osteogenesis.

Resorption of monetite calcium phosphate cement by mouse bone marrow derived osteoclasts.

Recently the interest for monetite based biomaterials as bone grafts has increased; since in vivo studies have demonstrated that they are degradable, osteoconductive and improve bone healing. So far osteoclastic resorption of monetite has received little attention. The current study focuses on the osteoclastic resorption of monetite cement using primary mouse bone marrow macrophages, which have the potential to differentiate into resorbing osteoclasts when treated with receptor activator NF-κB ligand (RANKL). The osteoclast viability and differentiation were analysed on monetite cement and compared to cortical bovine bone discs. After seven days live/dead stain results showed no significant difference in viability between the two materials. However, the differentiation was significantly higher on the bone discs, as shown by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and Cathepsin K gene expression. Moreover monetite samples with differentiated osteoclasts had a 1.4 fold elevated calcium ion concentration in their culture media compared to monetite samples with undifferentiated cells. This indicates active resorption of monetite in the presence of osteoclasts. In conclusion, this study suggests that osteoclasts have a crucial role in the resorption of monetite based biomaterials. It also provides a useful model for studying in vitro resorption of acidic calcium phosphate cements by primary murine cells.

Calcium phosphate cements with strontium halides as radiopacifiers.

High radiopacity is required to monitor the delivery and positioning of injectable implants. Inorganic nonsoluble radiopacifiers are typically used in nondegradable bone cements; however, their usefulness in resorbable cements is limited due to their low solubility. Strontium halides, except strontium fluoride, are ionic water-soluble compounds that possess potential as radiopacifiers. In this study, we compare the radiopacity, mechanical properties, composition, and cytotoxicity of radiopaque brushite cements prepared with strontium fluoride (SrF2 ), strontium chloride (SrCl2 ·6H2 O), strontium bromide (SrBr2 ), or strontium iodide (SrI2 ). Brushite cements containing 10 wt % SrCl2 ·6H2 O, SrBr2 , or SrI2 exhibited equal to or higher radiopacity than commercial radiopaque cements. Furthermore, the brushite crystal lattice in cements that contained the ionic radiopacifiers was larger than in unmodified cements and in cements that contained SrF2 , indicating strontium substitution. Despite the fact that the strontium halides increased the solubility of the cements and affected their mechanical properties, calcium phosphate cements containing SrCl2 ·6H2 O, SrBr2 , and SrI2 showed no significant differences in Saos-2 cell viability and proliferation with respect to the control. Strontium halides: SrCl2 ·6H2 O, SrBr2 , and SrI2 may be potential candidates as radiopacifiers in resorbable biomaterials although their in vivo biocompatibility, when incorporated into injectable implants, is yet to be assessed.

Zebrafish: A possible tool to evaluate bioactive ions

Zebrafish is a well-established model organism with a skeletal structure that highly resembles mammalian bone. Yet its use in the research field of biomaterials has been limited. One area that could benefit from this model system is the evaluation of ionic dissolution products from different materials. As a proof of concept we have evaluated the effect of silicate ions on the zebrafish larvae and compared it to a well-known osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1 subclone 14. We have shown that sodium metasilicate (125 μM and 625 μM) induces more mineralisation in a dose-dependent manner in zebrafish larvae, 9 days post fertilisation as compared to the non-treated group. Moreover the same trends were seen when adding sodium metasilicate to MC3T3-E1 cultures, with more mineralisation and higher ALP levels with higher doses of silicate (25, 125 and 625 μM). These results indicate the feasibility of zebrafish larvae for ionic dissolution studies. The zebrafish model is superior to isolated cell cultures in the aspect that it includes the whole bone remodelling system, with osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes. Zebrafish could thus provide a powerful in vivo tool and be a bridge between cell culture systems and mammalian models.