Frontier biomedical research: from multi-functional bio-interfaces to biomaterials and tissue engineering

The progress over a quarter century on understanding molecular self-assemblies of various biomolecules, like, fatty acids, lipids, proteins and drugs, and colloidal characteristics of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), such as... [ view full abstract ]

The progress over a quarter century on understanding molecular self-assemblies of various biomolecules, like, fatty acids, lipids, proteins and drugs, and colloidal characteristics of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), such as hydroxyapatite (HapNPs) as well as of AuNPs and AgNPs, has allowed us to develop a practical strategy for syntheses of innovative nanobiomaterials. These nanobiomaterials can be used as scaffolds in cell culture or in biomedical devices with improved anti-microbial properties. Thus, new horizons are opened up from multi-functional biointerfaces and innovative materials to tissue engineering and nanomedicine with vast biomedical applications. The structure and properties of these materials are investigated by cutting-edge experimental tools existing in our Center of Physical Chemistry, in Babes-Bolyai University platform of research (e.g., AFM, STM, fluorescence microscopy, SEM and TEM, Langmuir-Blodgett techniques for self-assembly (LBT), DSC calorimetry, and various spectroscopic techniques: UV-Vis, FTIR, RMN, RAMAN and RES.

Innovative Hap, modified with Si, Mg and Zn: Hap-Si-Mg-Zn, and functional scaffolds of these materials with collagen:COL represent the first report on the effects of Si, Mg and Zn, simultaneously present within the layered ceramic scaffolds in human osteoblasts culture. For this goal, the cellular expression of osteoblasts markers: like collagen, osteopontin and osteocalcin were visualized by fluorescence microscopy and by using immuno-cytochemical staining methods. Results indicate that combined scaffolds made of Hap/COL, Hap-Si/COL and Hap-Si-Mg-Zn/COL layers have an improved stimulating activity to osteoblasts compared with native scaffolds (e.g., made only from pure Hap), particularly in promoting the formation of mineralized bone matrix. Moreover Hap-Si-Mg-Zn/COL combined layered scaffolds substantially enhanced osteoblasts activity and adhesion, as evidenced by cell expression of collagen, osteopontin and osteocalcin as well as of F-actin stress fibers, in vitro. Thus, current study clearly demonstrated that the incorporation of Si, Mg and Zn within Hap could be an active, safe and inexpensive tool for potential clinical applications in orthopedic surgery, bone cancer therapy and nanomedicine. Acknowledgements: This research was supported by the UEFISCDI through the 171, 241 and 257 projects.