Objectives. The surface of pure titanium (Ti) shows decreased histocompatibility over time; this phenomenon is known as biological ageing.
Background. External fixation is a method of osteosynthesis currently required in traumatology and orthopaedic surgery. Pin tract infection is a common problem in clinical practice. Infection occurs after a bacterial colonisation of the pin due to its contact with skin and local environment. To prevent such local contamination, one way to handle this issue is to create a specific coating using method which could be applied in the medical field. In this work we develop a surface coating for external fixator pins based on photocatalytic TiOα properties, producing a bactericidal effect with sufficient mechanical strength to be compatible with surgical use. Method. The morphology and structure of the sol-gel coating layers were characterised using, respectively, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Resistance properties of the coating were investigated by mechanical testing. Photo-degradation of acid orange 7 in aqueous solution was used as a probe, to assess the photo-catalytic activity of titanium dioxide layers under
Objectives. Ultraviolet (UV) light-mediated photofunctionalisation is known to improve osseointegration of pure titanium (Ti). However, histological examination of titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V), which is frequently applied in orthopaedic and dental surgery, has not yet been performed. This study examined the osseointegration of photofunctionalised Ti6Al4V implants. Methods. Ti and Ti6Al4V implants were treated with UV light, and the chemical composition and contact angle on the surfaces were evaluated to confirm photofunctionalisation. The implants were inserted into femurs in rats, and the rats were killed two or four weeks after the surgery. For histomorphometric analysis, both the bone–implant contact (BIC) ratio and the bone volume (BV) ratio were calculated from histological analysis and microcomputed tomography data. Results. The amount of carbon and the contact angle on both implants were significantly reduced after
Background. Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels are becoming an increasingly attractive choice for the creation of new biomaterials useful in wound care, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, because of their high level of biocompatibility and biodegradability, and for their ability to imitate the environment of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Due to the poor biomechanical properties of native hyaluronan, a variety of chemical modifications have been devised to provide mechanically and chemically stiffer materials. Methods. In this work, 200 kDa hyaluronic acid was modified with coumarin moieties via a functional linker (FID119) and photo-polymerised into networks through a [2+2] cycloaddition reaction using near-UV light (l. max. =365 nm). This method allows to obtain “wall-to-wall” hydrogels starting from moderately viscous solutions. FID119 can therefore be deposited in the cartilage defect as an aqueous solution and can be polymerised in situ after
Cells of the intervertebral disc exist in an unusual environment compared to those of other tissues. Within the disc there are low levels of nutrients available, low oxygen levels and it is an acidic environment due to high lactate levels. Apoptosis (programmed or controlled cell death) has been reported in intervertebral discs, as well as necrosis (uncontrolled cell death). This study has focused on examining the sensitivity of nucleus pulpo-sus (NP) cells to several stimuli, in comparison to two other cells types. Ultra violet (UV) irradiation, serum starvation (with no foetal calf serum) and treatment with 2mM hydrogen peroxide were used to induce apoptosis in cultured bovine NP cells, HeLa (cancer cell line) and 293T cells (human embryo kidney derived) cells. Apoptosis was identified by nuclear morphology following staining with fluorescent Hoechst 33342 dye and propidium iodide; the incidence was measured at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Untreated controls were used for each treatment and at each time point. The incidence of apoptosis increased with time for all treatments. After 72 hours, UV treatment produced the highest levels of apoptosis with levels of apoptosis occurring in the order of HeLa (94%) >
NP cells (29%) >
293T cells (15%). Treatment with hydrogen peroxide and serum starvation induced apoptosis at lower levels in all three cell types (maximum of 30%). Serum starvation induced apoptosis in only 10% of NP cells at 72 hours, compared to 20% in HeLa cells. None of the controls contained apoptotic cells. NP cells are stimulated to apoptose in response to
