Taiji Sohmura

Three-dimensional cell and tissue patterning in a strained fibrin gel system.

Techniques developed for the in vitro reproduction of three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic tissue will be valuable for investigating changes in cell function in tissues and for fabricating cell/matrix composites for applications in tissue engineering techniques. In this study, we show that the simple application of a continuous strain to a fibrin gel facilitates the development of fibril alignment and bundle-like structures in the fibrin gel in the direction of the applied strain. Myoblasts cultured in this gel also exhibited well-aligned cell patterning in a direction parallel to the direction of the strain. Interestingly, the direction of cell proliferation was identical to that of cell alignment. Finally, the oriented cells formed linear groups that were aligned parallel to the direction of the strain and replicated the native skeletal muscle cell patterning. In addition, vein endothelial cells formed a linear, aligned vessel-like structure in this system. Thus, the system enables the in vitro reproduction of 3D aligned cell sets replicating biological tissue patterns.

Modification of Apatite Materials for Bone Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery Carriers

Apatite-related calcium phosphate, the main component of biological hard tissue, has good biocompatibility and is an economical material. Methods for the synthesis of apatite materials including hydroxyapatite (HAp) have previously been established. Therefore, for many years, apatite materials have been utilized as substitute materials for bone in orthopedic and dental fields. Such types of conventional substitute materials, which are implanted in the human body, should ostensibly be chemically stable to maintain their quality over time. However, recent advances in tissue engineering have altered this concept. Physicians and researchers now seek to identify materials that alter their properties temporally and spatially to achieve ideal tissue regeneration. In order to use apatite materials for tissue engineering and as drug delivery systems, the materials require both a high affinity for cells, tissues and/or functional molecules (e.g. growth factors and genes) and controllable bioabsorbability. To achieve these properties, various physicochemical modifications of apatite materials have been attempted. In addition, fabrication desiring three-dimensional structures (e.g. size, morphology and porosity) of apatite materials for implant sites could be one of the crucial techniques used to obtain ideal prognoses. In this review, the latest research trends relating to the techniques for the fabrication and modification of apatite materials are introduced.

Complete 3-D reconstruction of dental cast shape using perceptual grouping

To achieve the complete three-dimensional (3-D) data retrieval of the shape of dentition, dental casts were measured from four directions; occlusal, right, left, and labial sides using a line laser scanner. Reconstruction of the entire shape, including undercuts and tooth crowding area, was attempted by applying a perceptual grouping algorithm, which is one of pattern-recognition theories. In the data measured from occlusal, right and left sides, the rows of measurements were parallel to the frontal plane, and three-directionally combined data (3-DC data) was accomplished by affine transformation. While, in the labial side, transformation to the frontal plane was done since rows of the measured data were parallel to the sagittal plane. To combine the labial data with the 3-DC data and reconstruct the complete image, rearrangement of the order of the data in the file was attempted by applying the perceptual grouping. That is, the minimum total length of data combining was examined by considering the factor of proximity and continuity between the data. The most appropriate order of data combining and recognition of islands were accomplished. Using a computer graphic (CG) with a wire-frame model, complicated regions such as anterior segments showing tooth crowding and undercut area were found to be successfully reconstructed without any data defects. The accuracy of reconstruction was ascertained by comparing the characteristic distances between apexes of molars in the reconstructed model with the real cast. The difference was within 0.3 mm, and present method for dental cast reconstruction is considered to be satisfactory for the present purpose such as orthodontics.

Fabrication of Freeform Bone-Filling Calcium Phosphate Ceramics by Gypsum 3D Printing Method

Transformation of gypsum model fabricated by three-dimensional printing (3DP) into hydroxyapatite (HA) by treating in ammonium phosphate solution is possible. However, 3DP powder supplied by the manufacturer contains unknown additives which may be questionable for biomaterials. Accordingly, pure plaster of Paris (POP) powder was used for fabrication in the present study. For accurate fabrication, reduction of supplied binder ink to 80% of standard amount for 3DP powder supplied by the manufacturer was found to be the optimal condition for POP fabrication. Transformation from POP to HA was done by immersing into 1 mol/L ammonium phosphate solution. However, preheating of fabricated POP specimen at 200 degrees C for 30 min to change from calcium sulfate dihydrate into calcium sulfate hemihydrate could accelerate the transformation into HA effectively. To increase compressive strength, HA transformed specimen was sintering at 1150 degrees C for 3 h. The compressive strength increased four times comparing with as transformed HA specimen. However, crystal structure was transformed to beta-TCP due to the chemical reaction between the transformed HA and remained phosphate from ammonium phosphate solution at the sintering temperature. A sophisticated application of the present 3DP method to fabricate the freeform bioceramic for osseous defect was attempted, and jaw bone defect filling biomaterial of beta-TCP and scaffold with macroporous structures could be fabricated. Present 3DP method has possibility to fabricate freeform bioceramic for osseous defect or scaffold.

CAD/CAM fabrication and clinical application of surgical template and bone model in oral implant surgery.

OBJECTIVES A novel implant surgery support system with computer simulation for implant insertion and fabrication of a surgical template that helps in drilling bone was developed. A virtual reality haptic device that gives the sense of touch was used for simulation and a surgical template was fabricated by CAD/CAM method. Surgical guides were applied for two clinical cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three-dimensional (3D) jaw bone images transferred from DICOM data filmed by CT scanner were fed to the software and manipulated using the haptic device. The site for implant insertion was determined after evaluating the quality of bone and position of the mandibular canal. The surgical template was designed with ease using the free design CAD function of haptic device. The surgical template and bone model were fabricated by a fused deposit modeling machine. Two clinical cases were applied using the present system. RESULTS Simulation to determine the site of implant insertion and fabrication of the surgical bone templates were successfully done in two clinical cases, one for three implant insertion in lower right jaw and the other is for seven implant insertion in lower edentulous jaw, respectively. During surgery, the templates could be firmly adapted on the bone and drilling was successfully performed in both cases. CONCLUSION The present simulation and drilling support using the surgical template may help to perform safe and accurate implant surgery.

Apatite Containing Aspartic Acid for Selective Protein Loading

Physico-chemical modifications of hydroxyapatite (HAp) materials are considered as pre-requisites for the development of new bioactive carrier materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. Since acidic amino acids have well-documented affinities to both HAp and basic proteins, HAp modified by aspartic acid (Asp, acidic amino acid) might be one of the candidate substrates for a basic protein carrier. Here, we synthesized HAp in the presence of various concentrations of Asp and observed that HAp crystallinity and other physico-chemical properties were effectively modulated. Detailed studies indicated that Asp was not incorporated in the HAp crystal lattice, but rather was trapped in HAp crystals. Protein adsorption studies indicated that the HAp particles modified by Asp had a selective loading capacity for basic protein. Therefore, HAp particles containing Asp might have potential in drug delivery applications, especially as the carrier of basic proteins including bFGF and BMP.

Dentoalveolar Growth of Patients With Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate by Early Two-Stage Furlow and Push-Back Method: Preliminary Results

Objective This study examined dentoalveolar growth changes prior to the time of palatoplasty up to 3 years of age by the early two-stage Furlow and push-back methods. Subjects Thirty-four Japanese patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) treated with either a two-stage Furlow procedure (Furlow group: seven boys, eight girls) from 1998 to 2002 or a push-back procedure (push-back group; 12 boys, 7 girls) from 1993 to 1997. Method Consecutive plaster models were measured by three-dimensional laser scanner, before primary palatoplasty, before hard palate closure (Furlow group only), and at 3 years of age. Bite measures were taken at 3 years of age. Results In the Furlow group, arch length, canine width, first and second deciduous molar width and cross-sectional area, and depth and volume at midpoint showed greater growth than in the push-back group. In the Furlow group, the crossbite score was also better than in the push-back group at 3 years of age. In comparison with the push-back group, inhibition of growth impediment in the anterior region was observed in the horizontal direction in the Furlow group. In the midregion, it was observed in the horizontal and vertical directions, and in the posterior region it was observed in the horizontal direction. Conclusion The results demonstrate that the early two-stage Furlow method showed progressive alveolar growth. Therefore, the early two-stage Furlow method is a more beneficial procedure than the push-back method.

High-resolution 3-D shape integration of dentition and face measured by new laser scanner

Face and dentition were measured using a high-resolution three-dimensional laser scanner to circumvent problems of radiation exposure and metal-streak artifacts associated with X-ray computed tomography. The resulting range data were integrated in order to visualize the dentition relative to the face. The acquisition interval for dentition by laser scanner was 0.18 mm, and complicated morphologies of the occlusal surface could be sufficiently reproduced. Reproduction of occlusal condition of upper and lower dentitions was conducted by matching the surface of the occlusal impression record with upper dentition data. To integrate dentition and face, a marker plate interface was devised and adopted on the lower dental cast or by the subject directly. Integration was performed by matching both sets of interface data. Reproduction of the occlusal condition and integration of the dentition and face were accomplished and visualized satisfactorily by computer graphics. The integration accuracy was examined by changing the attachment angle of the marker plate, and the marker plate attached at 45/spl deg/ showed the smallest error of 0.2 mm. The current noninvasive method is applicable to clinical examination, diagnosis and explanation to the patient when dealing with the physical relationship between face and dentition.

Regulation of the protein-loading capacity of hydroxyapatite by mercaptosuccinic acid modification

Loading and releasing protein in a controllable way is extremely important for the protein vehicles used in bone tissue engineering. To obtain a suitable carrier material for basic proteins, such as BMP or bFGF, hydroxyapatite particles containing mercaptosuccinic acid (mercaptosuccinic acid (Mer), (Mer-HAp)) were synthesized. Physicochemical evaluation of Mer-HAp suggested that Mer was contained in HAp particles: it either simply adsorbed onto HAp crystals or was trapped among the HAp crystals. A protein adsorption study using basic and acidic model proteins indicated that the synthesized Mer-HAp had selective loading properties of the basic protein. The loaded protein was gradually released from Mer-HAp in phosphate buffered saline. The protein release rate was different in each Mer-HAp synthesized with a different concentration of Mer. In addition, the protein release from Mer-HAp showed a similar profile with the Ca dissolution in different pH solutions, indicating that the Mer-HAp dissolution was concerned with the protein release from Mer-HAp. Thus, Mer-HAp is a useful candidate for the basic protein carrier because it has properties which enable the loading and releasing of protein in a controllable way.

Custom-made titanium devices as membranes for bone augmentation in implant treatment: Clinical application and the comparison with conventional titanium mesh.

OBJECTIVE Development of new custom-made devices to reconstruct alveolar bone for implantation, and comparison with conventional methods were the goals of this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a computer-aided design technique, three-dimensional images were constructed. From these data, custom-made devices were produced by a selective laser melting method with pure titanium. Clinical trials also have been conducted with 26 participants who needed bone reconstruction before implantation; they were divided into 2 groups with 13 patients each. The first group uses custom-made devices; the other uses commercial titanium meshes that need to bend during operation. Some clinical aspects are evaluated after the trial. RESULTS The custom-made devices can be produced closely by following the data precisely. Devices are fit for bone defect site. Moreover, the operation time of the custom-made group (75.4 ± 11.6 min) was significantly shorter than that of the conventional group (111.9 ± 17.8 min) (p < 0.01). Mucosal rupture occurs, without significant difference (p = 0.27), in a patient in the custom-made without severe infection (7.7%), and 3 in conventional (23.1%), respectively. The retaining screw is significantly fewer in the custom-made group than commercial mesh group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION These results indicate that our novel protocol could be simple and safe for providing powerful support for guided bone regeneration.