0000000000794117

AUTHOR

Olga Albert

Bioactive and biodegradable silica biomaterial for bone regeneration.

Biosilica, a biocompatible, natural inorganic polymer that is formed by an enzymatic, silicatein-mediated reaction in siliceous sponges to build up their inorganic skeleton, has been shown to be morphogenetically active and to induce mineralization of human osteoblast-like cells (SaOS-2) in vitro. In the present study, we prepared beads (microspheres) by encapsulation of β-tricalcium phosphate [β-TCP], either alone (control) or supplemented with silica or silicatein, into the biodegradable copolymer poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) [PLGA]. Under the conditions used, ≈5% β-TCP, ≈9% silica, and 0.32μg/mg of silicatein were entrapped into the PLGA microspheres (diameter≈800μm). Determination of …

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Primary Cell Culture of Fresh Water Hyriopsis cumingii Mantle/Pearl Sac Tissues and Its Effect on Calcium Carbonate Mineralization

Primary cell cultures of the fresh water Hyriopsis cumingii mantle and pearl sac tissues were produced in this study, and the influence of the tissue, cells, and secreted protein on calcium carbonate crystal nucleation and growth was studied. The study contributes to a further understanding of the influence of organic matrices on CaCO3 crystal formation. This research started from the protein level to the tissue/cell level, which is crucial for understanding the inorganic deposition process. The new data also add relevant theoretical approaches to an overall understanding of biomineralization processes. In the experimental groups with mantle or pearl sac tissue, the growth patterns of arago…

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Bio-inorganic Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications (Bio-silica and Polyphosphate)

Bio-silica represents the main mineral component of the sponge skeletal elements (siliceous spicules), while bio-polyphosphate (polyP), a multifunctional polymer existing in microorganisms and animals, acts, among others, as reinforcement for pores in cell membranes. These natural inorganic bio-polymers, which can be readily prepared, either by recombinant enzymes (bio-silica and polyP) or chemically (polyP), are promising materials/substances for the amelioration and/or treatment of human bone diseases and dysfunctions. Bone defects in human, caused by fractures/nonunions or trauma, have an increasing impact and have become a medical challenge in the present-day aging population. Frequentl…

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