• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2017

Scaffolds of cell substrates are biophysical platforms for cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. They ultimately play a leading-edge role in the regeneration of tissues. Recent studies have shown the potential of bioactive scaffolds (i.e., osteo-inductive) through 3D printing. In this study, rice bran-derived biocomposite was fabricated for fused deposition modeling (FDM)-based 3D printing as a potential bone-graft analogue. Rice bran by-product was blended with poly caprolactone (PCL), a synthetic commercial biodegradable polymer. An extruder with extrusion process molding was adopted to manufacture the newly blended "green material." Processing conditions affected the performance of these blends. Bio-filament composite was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Mechanical characterization of bio-filament composite was carried out to determine stress-strain and compressive strength. Biological behaviors of bio-filament composites were also investigated by assessing cell cytotoxicity and water contact angle. EDX results of bio-filament composites indicated the presence of organic compounds. These bio-filament composites were found to have higher tensile strength than conventional PCL filament. They exhibited positive response in cytotoxicity. Biological analysis revealed better compatibility of r-PCL with rice bran. Such rice bran blended bio-filament composite was found to have higher elongation and strength compared to control PCL.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2011

The design of new bioactive scaffolds offering physiologic environment for tissue formation is an important frontier in biomaterials research. In this study, we performed compressive strength, water-uptake ability, and SEM analysis for physical property assessment of 3-D silk/PLGA scaffold, and investigated the adhesion, proliferation, phenotype maintenance, and inflammatory responses of RAW 264.7 and NIH/3T3 for cell compatibility. Scaffolds were prepared by the solvent casting/salt leaching method and their compressive strength and water-uptake ability were excellent at 20 wt% silk content. Result of cell compatibility assay showed that inflammatory responses distinctly decreased, and initial adhesion and proliferation were maximized at 20 wt% silk content. In conclusion, we suggest that silk/PLGA scaffolds may be useful to tissue engineering applications.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.328-333
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• 2013

Many bioactive molecules like recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) have been developed for mineralized bone grafts, for which proper scaffolds are necessary to successfully apply the bioactive molecules. In this study, we tested the osteogenic efficacy of rhBMP-2 produced in-house in combination with gelatin sponge as the scaffold carrier in a rabbit radial defect model. The efficacy of the rhBMP-2 was determined by alkaline phosphatase activity assay of C2C12 cells. Two groups of ten rabbits each were treated with rhBMP-2/gelatin sponge, or gelatin sponge only. At 4 weeks, rhBMP-2/gelatin sponge grafts showed more bone regeneration than gelatin sponge grafts, as determined by X-ray radiography, micro-computed tomography, and histological analyses. At 8 weeks, rhBMP-2/gelatin sponge grafts exerted much stronger osteogenic effects. The study demonstrates the improved osteogenic efficacy of the rhBMP-2/gelatin sponge grafts in a rabbit radial bone defect model acting as a bone-inductive material.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.319-330
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• 2005

Over the past few decades, much effort has been made to improve the mechanical and biological performance of HA, in order to extend its range of applications. As a major inorganic component of human hard tissues, hydroxyapatite bioceramic is regarded as being one of the most biocompatible materials. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed its excellent bioactivity, osteoconductivity and bone forming ability. However, because of its poor mechanical properties, its use in hard tissue applications has been restricted to those areas in which it can be used in the form of small sized powders/granules or in the non-load bearing sites. A number of researchers have focused on improving the mechanical and biological performance of HA, as well as on the formulation of hybrid and composite systems in order to extend its range of applications. In this article, we reviewed our recent works on HA-based biomaterials; i) the strengthening of HA with ceramic oxides, ii) HA-based bioactive coatings on metallic implants, iii) HA-based porous scaffolds and iv) HA-polymer hybrids/composites.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.584-588
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• 2008

Porous hydroxyapatite(HA) and HA-coated porous $Al_2O_3$ possessing pore characteristics required for bone substitutes were prepared by a slurry foaming method combined with gelcasting. The HA coating was deposited by heating porous $Al_2O_3$ substrates in an aqueous solution containing $Ca^{2+}$ and ${PO_4}^{3-}$ ions at $65{\sim}95^{\circ}C$ under ambient pressure. The pore characteristic, microstructure, and compressive strength were investigated and compared for the two kinds of samples. The porosity of the samples was about 81% and 80% for HA and $Al_2O_3$, respectively with a highly interconnected network of spherical pores with size ranging from 50 to $250{\mu}m$. The porous $Al_2O_3$ sample showed much higher compressive strength(25 MPa) than the porous HA sample(10 MPa). Fairly dense and uniform HA coating(about $2{\mu}m$ thick) was deposited on the porous $Al_2O_3$ sample. Since the compressive strength of cancellous bone is $2{\sim}12$ MPa, both the porous HA and HA-coated porous $Al_2O_3$ samples could be successfully utilized as scaffolds for bone repair. Especially the latter is expected suitable for load bearing bone substitutes due to its excellent strength.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2024

Male infertility can be caused by genetic anomalies, endocrine disorders, inflammation, and exposure to toxic chemicals or gonadotoxic treatments. Therefore, several recent studies have concentrated on the preservation and restoration of fertility to enhance the quality of life for affected individuals. It is currently recommended to biobank the tissue extracted from testicular biopsies to provide a later source of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Another successful approach has been the in vitro production of haploid male germ cells. The capacity of SSCs to transform into sperm, as in testicular tissue transplantation, SSC therapy, and in vitro or ex vivo spermatogenesis, makes them ideal candidates for in vivo fertility restoration. The transplantation of SSCs or testicular tissue to regenerate spermatogenesis and create embryos has been achieved in nonhuman mammal species. Although the outcomes of human trials have yet to be released, this method may soon be approved for clinical use in humans. Furthermore, regenerative medicine techniques that develop tissue or cells on organic or synthetic scaffolds enriched with bioactive molecules have also gained traction. All of these methods are now in different stages of experimentation and clinical trials. However, thanks to rigorous studies on the safety and effectiveness of SSC-based reproductive treatments, some of these techniques may be clinically available in upcoming decades.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.233-239
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• 2006

Porous matrices of bioactive polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA) or polylactic acid (PLA) can be used as scaffolds in bone tissue growth during bone repair process. These polymers are highly porous and serve as a template for the growth and organization of new bone tissues. We evaluated the effect of PGA and PLA polymers on osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell extracellular mineralization. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in a time-dependent manner -1, 15, 25d as appropriate - for the period of bone formation stages in one of the five culture circumstances, such as normal osteogenic differentiation medium, PGA-plated, fetal bovine serum (FBS)-plated, PGA/FBS-coplated, and PLA-plated For the evaluation of bone formation, minerals (Ca, Mg, Mn) and alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker for osteoblast differentiation, were measured Alizarin Red staining was used for the measurement of extracellular matrix Ca deposit During the culture period, PGA-plated one was reabsorbed into the medium more easily and faster than the PLA-plated one. At day 15, at the middle stage of bone formation, cellular Ca and Mg levels showed higher tendency in PGA- or PLA-plated treatments compared to non-plated control and at day 25, at the early late stage of bone formation, all three cellular Ca, Mg or Mn levels showed higher tendency as in order of PGA-related treatments and PLA-plated treatments, compared to control even without significance. Medium Ca, Mg or Mn levels didn't show any consistent tendency. Cellular ALP activity was higher in the PGA- or PLA-plated treatments compare to normal osteogenic medium treatment PGA-plated and PGA/FBS-plated treatments showed better Ca deposits than other treatments by measurement of Alizarin Red staining, although PLA-plated treatment also showed reasonable Ca deposit. The results of the present study suggest that biodegradable material, PGA and also with less extent for PLA, can be used as a biomaterial for better extracellular matrix mineralization in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.49.1-49.1
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• 2009

최근 손상된 생체조직의 재생 또는 대체를 위하여 다공성의 지지체(scaffold)를 이용하는 연구가 활발히 이루어져 왔다. 지지체 재료는 조직 재생을 목적으로 하는 경우에는 생분해성 고분자, 생흡수성 세라믹스 또는 이들의 복합재료가 사용되고, 조직 대체를 목적으로 하는 경우에는 금속 또는 세라믹스 재료가 단독으로 사용된다. 현재 경조직 대체를 위한 임플란트 재료로 사용되고 있는 금속재료 중 대부분이 타이타늄 또는 타이타늄 합금이다. 타이타늄은 비강도, 내식성이 우수하며, 생체 내 환경에서 부동태피막 재생 속도가 빠르고, 섬유상 결체조직 형성 두께가 얇아 생체의료용 소재로서 각광을 받고 있다. 다공성 타이타늄은 기존 타이타늄 소재의 장점에 다공체의 구조적인 특성을 부가하여 하중을 받는 골 결손부에 사용될 경우 뼈와의 탄성계수 차이에서 기인하는 응력차폐(stress shielding) 효과를 최소화할 수 있고, 다공체 내부로 골조직 성장을 유도할 수 있어 지지체와 골조직이 일체화되는 골융합 효과의 극대화를 기대할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 기공 구조를 다양하게 제어할 수 있고, 3차원적 연결 기공구조를 만들 수 있는 적층조형(layer manufacturing) 기술을 이용하여 3차원 다공성 타이타늄 지지체를 제조하였으며, 이에 대한 세포독성, 조골세포 증식능 등 in vitro 생체적합성을 평가하고, Rat model 을 이용한 in vivo 생체적합성을 평가하였다. 또한 지지체의 골조직 재생 유도성의 증대를 위한 생체활성처리 영향도 분석 평가하였다.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.207-223
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• 2003

For last five years, we are developing the novel local drug delivery devices using biodegradable polymers, especially polylactide (PLA) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) due to its relatively good biocompatibility, easily controlled biodegradability, good processability and only FDA approved synthetic degradable polymers. The relationship between various kinds of drug [water soluble small molecule drugs: gentamicin sulfate (GS), fentanyl citrate (FC), BCNU, azidothymidine (AZT), pamidronate (ADP), $1,25(OH)_2$ vitamin $D_3$, water insoluble small molecule drugs: fentanyl, ipriflavone (IP) and nifedipine, and water soluble large peptide molecule drug: nerve growth factor (NGF), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)], different types of geometrical devices [microspheres (MSs), microcapsule, nanoparticle, wafers, pellet, beads, multiple-layered beads, implants, fiber, scaffolds, and films], and pharmacological activity are proposed and discussed for the application of pharmaceutics and tissue engineering. Also, local drug delivery devices proposed in this work are introduced in view of preparation method, drug release behavior, biocompatibility, pharmacological effect, and animal studies. In conclusion, we can control the drug release profiles varying with the preparation, formulation and geometrical parameters. Moreover, any types of drug were successfully applicable to achieve linear sustained release from short period ($1{\sim}3$ days) to long period (over 2 months). It is very important to design a suitable formulation for the wanting period of bioactive molecules loaded in biodegradable polymers for the local delivery of drug. The drug release is affected by many factors such as hydrophilicity of drug, electric charge of drug, drug loading amount, polymer molecular weight, the monomer composition, the size of implants, the applied fabrication techniques, and so on. It is well known that the commercialization of new drug needs a lot of cost of money (average: over 10 million US dollar per one drug) and time (average: above 9 years) whereas the development of DDS and high effective generic drug might be need relatively low investment with a short time period. Also, one core technology of DDS can be applicable to many drugs for the market needs. From these reasons, the DDS research on potent generic drugs might be suitable for less risk and high return.