Olivier Marsan

Strontium‐loaded mineral bone cements as sustained release systems: Compositions, release properties, and effects on human osteoprogenitor cells

This study aims to evaluate in vitro the release properties and biological behavior of original compositions of strontium (Sr)-loaded bone mineral cements. Strontium was introduced into vaterite CaCO3 -dicalcium phosphate dihydrate cement via two routes: as SrCO3 in the solid phase (SrS cements), and as SrCl2 dissolved in the liquid phase (SrL cements), leading to different cement compositions after setting. Complementary analytical techniques implemented to thoroughly investigate the release/dissolution mechanism of Sr-loaded cements at pH 7.4 and 37°C during 3 weeks revealed a sustained release of Sr and a centripetal dissolution of the more soluble phase (vaterite) limited by a diffusion process. In all cases, the initial burst of the Ca and Sr release (highest for the SrL cements) that occurred over 48 h did not have a significant effect on the expression of bone markers (alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin), the levels of which remained overexpressed after 15 days of culture with human osteoprogenitor (HOP) cells. At the same time, proliferation of HOP cells was significantly higher on SrS cements. Interestingly, this study shows that we can optimize the sustained release of Sr(2+) , the cement biodegradation and biological activity by controlling the route of introduction of strontium in the cement paste.

Characterization of Calcium Phosphates Using Vibrational Spectroscopies

Vibrational spectroscopies are extensively used for the characterization of calcium phosphates either as natural biological minerals (bone, teeth, ectopic calcifications) or as biomaterials (bioceramics, coatings, composites). The present review begins with a theoretical description of expected spectra for the main calcium phosphate phases (i.e., brushite, monetite, octacalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphates, apatites, amorphous calcium phosphate) followed by the analysis of real spectra, line positions and assignments, and observed anomalies. In the second part, the spectra of complex well-crystallized ion-substituted apatites and other calcium phosphates, as well as solid solutions, are investigated, and the information gained regarding the substitution types and ion distributions are derived. Finally, we will examine and interpret the spectra of nanocrystalline apatites considering the ion substitution effects and the existence of a surface hydrated layer. Quantification processes and spectra treatments are briefly presented and discussed. Examples of the use of vibrational spectroscopies for biomaterials and biominerals characterization will be detailed for coating evaluations, including spectroscopic imaging, following up on mineral cement setting reactions, adsorption studies, near infrared investigations of surface water, residual strains determinations in bone, orientation of apatite crystals in biological tissues, and crystallinity and maturity of bone mineral.

Combinatorial MAPLE deposition of antimicrobial orthopedic maps fabricated from chitosan and biomimetic apatite powders

Chitosan/biomimetic apatite thin films were grown in mild conditions of temperature and pressure by Combinatorial Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation on Ti, Si or glass substrates. Compositional gradients were obtained by simultaneous laser vaporization of the two distinct material targets. A KrF* excimer (λ=248nm, τFWHM=25ns) laser source was used in all experiments. The nature and surface composition of deposited materials and the spatial distribution of constituents were studied by SEM, EDS, AFM, GIXRD, FTIR, micro-Raman, and XPS. The antimicrobial efficiency of the chitosan/biomimetic apatite layers against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains was interrogated by viable cell count assay. The obtained thin films were XRD amorphous and exhibited a morphology characteristic to the laser deposited structures composed of nanometric round shaped grains. The surface roughness has progressively increased with chitosan concentration. FTIR, EDS and XPS analyses indicated that the composition of the BmAp-CHT C-MAPLE composite films gradually modified from pure apatite to chitosan. The bioevaluation tests indicated that S. aureus biofilm is more susceptible to the action of chitosan-rich areas of the films, whilst the E. coli biofilm proved more sensible to areas containing less chitosan. The best compromise should therefore go, in our opinion, to zones with intermediate-to-high chitosan concentration which can assure a large spectrum of antimicrobial protection concomitantly with a significant enhancement of osseointegration, favored by the presence of biomimetic hydroxyapatite.

Comparison of Physical-chemical and Mechanical Properties of Chlorapatite and Hydroxyapatite Plasma Sprayed Coatings

Chlorapatite can be considered a potential biomaterial for orthopaedic applications. Its use as plasma-sprayed coating could be of interest considering its thermal properties and particularly its ability to melt without decomposition unlike hydroxyapatite. Chlorapatite (ClA) was synthesized by a high-temperature ion exchange reaction starting from commercial stoichiometric hydroxyapatites (HA). The ClA powder showed similar characteristics as the original industrial HA powder, and was obtained in the monoclinic form. The HA and ClA powders were plasma-sprayed using a low-energy plasma spraying system with identical processing parameters. The coatings were characterized by physical-chemical methods, i.e. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, including distribution mapping of the main phases detected such as amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), oxyapatite (OA), and HA or ClA. The unexpected formation of oxyapatite in ClA coatings was assigned to a side reaction with contaminating oxygenated species (O2, H2O). ClA coatings exhibited characteristics different from HA, showing a lower content of oxyapatite and amorphous phase. Although their adhesion strength was found to be lower than that of HA coatings, their application could be an interesting alternative, offering, in particular, a larger range of spraying conditions without formation of massive impurities.

Hydroxyapatite functionalization to trigger adsorption and release of risedronate

Bisphosphonates are widely employed drugs for the treatment of pathologies characterized by excessive bone resorption, and display a great affinity for apatitic supports. In this work we investigate how hydroxyapatite functionalization can influence the processes of adsorption and release of a bisphosphonate, namely risedronate. To this aim, pure hydroxyapatite (HA), hydroxyapatite with a partial substitution of Zn to Ca (ZnHA) and poly-ethylenimine-functionalized hydroxyapatite (HAPEI) were submitted to interaction with risedronate solution. The results indicate that the mechanisms of adsorption and release are greatly influenced by the type of the apatitic support. All the apatitic supports display Langmuir isotherms for risedronate adsorption. However in the case of HAPEI the plateau is not reached even at high equilibrium concentrations in solution. The data suggest that risedronate adsorption on HAPEI mineral-organic support occurs not only through chemisorption on apatitic phase, as on HA and ZnHA, but also through physisorption involved by PEI coating, which modulates also bisphosphonate release. These properties of tailor-made hydroxyapatite supports could be exploited to develop delivery systems for antiresorptive agents directly on osteoporotic sites.

Adsorption of tranexamic acid on hydroxyapatite: Toward the development of biomaterials with local hemostatic activity

This work proposes to combine tranexamic acid (TAX), a clinically used antifibrinolytic agent, and hydroxyapatite (HA), widely used in bone replacement, to produce a novel bioactive apatitic biomaterial with intrinsic hemostatic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate adsorptive behavior of the TAX molecule onto HA and to point out its release in near physiological conditions. No other phase was observed by X-ray diffraction or transmission electron microscopy, and no apparent change in crystal size was detected. The presence of TAX on the powders was lightly detected on Raman spectra after adsorption. The adsorption data could be fitted with a Langmuir-Freundlich equation, suggesting a strong interaction between adsorbed molecules and the formation of multilayers. The concentration of calcium and phosphate ions in solution remained low and stable during the adsorption process, thus ion exchange during the adsorption process could be ruled out. The release of TAX was fast during the first hours and was governed by a complex process that likely involved both diffusion and dissolution of HA. Preliminary aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) hemostasis tests offered promising results for the development of osteoconductive apatitic biomaterials with intrinsic hemostatic properties, whether for dental or orthopedic applications.

Can Raman Spectroscopy be Applied for Investigating Graphite Growth in Nodular Cast Irons

Growth of graphite during solidification and high temperature solid-state transformation has been investigated in samples cut out from a thin wall casting solidified partly in the stable (iron–graphite) and partly in the metastable (iron–cementite) systems. To this end, Raman spectroscopy has been used to characterize graphite nodules in as-cast state and in samples which have been fully graphitized at various temperatures in the austenite field. The results show no significant difference between Raman spectra recorded from these samples, suggesting that graphite grows with the same mechanism during either solidification or high-temperature (so-called first stage) graphitization. Transmission electron microscopy investigation is underway for complementing and checking these results.