Unraveling osteogenesis mechanisms of the empowered VitaFlux adaptive regeneration biomaterials for bone tissue engineering: Insights into the role of BBGs/BSBGs

Abstract

Bone tissue engineering materials are crucial for bone repair, but existing repair materials still face many challenges, including poor biocompatibility and bioactivity, slow self-repair processes, limited adaptability, inability to promote angiogenesis and so on. To address these issues, the development of third-generation bone repair materials, which are being designed to stimulate specific cellular responses at the molecular level, such as borate and borosilicate bioactive glasses (BBGs/BSBGs) that activate cells and genes, offers new potential for promoting bone tissue self-renewing. Their unique characteristic lies in a flow of life-giving energy, releasing beneficial ions such as boron, calcium and silicon to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation, accelerating the regeneration of bones. Through this dynamic repair mechanism, these VitaFlux glasses operate like a “living system” within the body, not only speeding up the healing of damaged tissues but also interacting seamlessly with surrounding tissues during the repair process. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding of the osteogenesis mechanisms of BBGs/BSBGs, emphasizing their interactions with cells, including ion release and exchange, protein adsorption, and cell adhesion. We also examine key osteogenic signaling pathways related to the alkaline and ionic microenvironments of BBGs/BSBGs, such as the cell cycle, Wnt, MAPK, and BMP signaling pathways, along with macrophage polarization and angiogenesis. Additionally, strategies and future prospects for advancing BBGs/BSBGs research are discussed. Special attention is given to the NaBC1 and GPCR-mediated signaling pathways, which require further investigation.