Claudia Cocchi, Massimiliano Dapporto, Ania Naila Guerrieri, Chiara Liverani, Marta Tavoni, Chiara Bellotti, Chiara Spadazzi, Anna Tampieri, Marco Gambarotti, Giacomo Miserocchi, Simone Sprio, Enrico Lucarelli, Michele Iafisco, Toni Ibrahim, Alessandro De Vita, Laura Mercatali
{"title":"A Modular Biomimetic Preclinical Platform to Elucidate the Interaction Between Cancer Cells and the Bone Metastatic Niche.","authors":"Claudia Cocchi, Massimiliano Dapporto, Ania Naila Guerrieri, Chiara Liverani, Marta Tavoni, Chiara Bellotti, Chiara Spadazzi, Anna Tampieri, Marco Gambarotti, Giacomo Miserocchi, Simone Sprio, Enrico Lucarelli, Michele Iafisco, Toni Ibrahim, Alessandro De Vita, Laura Mercatali","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060220","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060220","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast cancer (BC) frequently metastasizes to bone, leading to poor patient prognosis. The infiltration of cancer cells in bone impairs its homeostasis, triggering a pathological interaction between tumors and resident cells. Preclinical models able to mimic the bone microenvironment are needed to advance translational findings on BC mechanisms and treatments. We designed strontium-doped calcium phosphate cement to be employed for culturing cancer and bone cells and developed an in vitro bone metastasis model. The platform was established step by step, starting with the monoculture of cancer cells, mature osteoblasts (OBs) differentiated from mesenchymal stem cells, and mature osteoclasts (OCs) differentiated from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. The model was implemented with the co-culture of cancer cells with OBs or OCs, or the co-culture of OBs and OCs, allowing us to discriminate the interaction between the actors of the bone metastatic niche. The biomimetic material was further challenged with bone metastasis patient-derived material, showing good versatility and biocompatibility, suggesting its potential use as bone substitute. Overall, we developed a bone-mimicking model able to reproduce reciprocal interactions between cancer and bone cells in a biomimetic environment suitable for studying the biomolecular determinants of bone metastasis and, in the future, as a drug efficacy platform.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194721/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Applications of Osteoimmunomodulation Models in Evaluating Osteogenic Biomaterials.","authors":"Yuhan Wang, Yuzhu He, Yaran Zang, Zijiao Zhang, Guangyao Li, Wenqi Fu, Guowu Ma","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060217","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060217","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of osteogenic biomaterials relies on updates in research methodologies. Establishing reasonable modes is the basis for obtaining reliable experimental conclusions. With the advancement in bone immunology, osteoimmunomodulatory properties have become one of the crucial indexes for evaluating osteogenic biomaterials. Summarizing the current models of bone immunomodulation is beneficial for optimizing experimental protocols and promoting the clinical application of osteogenic biomaterials. In this review, we introduced the crosstalk between the skeletal system and the immune system, in particular, the roles of different immune cells in the process of bone regeneration. Moreover, the mechanisms of osteogenic biomaterials in regulating the osteoimmune microenvironment were analyzed, followed by summarizing the benefits and limitations of current osteoimmunomodulation models in evaluating osteogenic biomaterials. Finally, we discussed the expected future directions of the applications of osteoimmunomodulation models.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194544/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Limor Mizrahi, Rotem Kelman, Efrat Shtriker, David Meridor, Dror Cohen, Meital Portugal-Cohen, Elizabeth Amir
{"title":"Controlled Release of Hydrophilic Active Agent from Textile Using Crosslinked Polyvinyl Alcohol Coatings.","authors":"Limor Mizrahi, Rotem Kelman, Efrat Shtriker, David Meridor, Dror Cohen, Meital Portugal-Cohen, Elizabeth Amir","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060216","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Functional fabrics embedded with active materials that can be released in a controlled manner upon external triggering have been explored for biomedical and cosmetic applications. This study introduces a method for the fabrication of nonwoven fabrics coated with crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for in situ encapsulation and controlled release of hydrophilic active agent, allantoin. Two types of crosslinked coatings were examined using citric acid (CA) or polyacrylic acid (PAA) as crosslinkers. Based on gel content, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) analyses PVA:CA coatings exhibited a higher crosslinking density compared to PVA:PAA systems. Swelling behavior was measured at 62% after 30 min for PVA:PAA 7:3 films and 36% after 60 min for PVA:CA 7:3 crosslinked films. The release of allantoin from the coated fabrics was influenced by the coating thickness (250-330 µm), the formulation viscosity (8-250 cP), allantoin content (1.2-4.2 mg) and the molecular weight between crosslinks (M<sub>C</sub>) 1,000,000-494 g/mol. PVA:CA 7:3 coating allowed the controlled release of 97% allantoin over 8 h, whereas PVA:PAA 7:3 coating exhibited a more prolonged release profile, with 96% of allantoin released over 20 h. Kinetic analyses of the release profiles revealed a good agreement with zero-order release.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12193727/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nam-Suk Yoon, Hyunsuk Choi, Hyung-Gyun Kim, Dong-Seok Sohn
{"title":"Retrospective Radiographic Evaluation of Ridge Dimensional Changes After Vertical Augmentation Using the Novel Wide-Head Tent Pole Screw Technique.","authors":"Nam-Suk Yoon, Hyunsuk Choi, Hyung-Gyun Kim, Dong-Seok Sohn","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060215","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060215","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Although significant advancements have been made in surgical techniques for reconstructing severely resorbed alveolar bone, achieving predictable regeneration remains a considerable challenge. Many conventional ridge augmentation methods require extended edentulous healing periods and multiple surgical interventions. This clinical study introduces a simplified approach to advanced ridge augmentation using a wide-head tent-pole screw (WHTPS), aimed at enhancing procedural efficiency and achieving predictable clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>Thirteen patients with severely vertically resorbed mandibular segments or completely edentulous alveolar ridges-each presenting with a minimum vertical bone defect of 5 mm-were included in this study. A single WHTPS was placed at the most severe bone defect site, followed by bone grafting and coverage with a resorbable membrane. Postoperative panoramic radiographs were taken immediately after surgery and again on the day of WHTPS removal, following a healing period of 3 to 6 months. An additional follow-up radiograph was obtained after final prosthesis placement, with an average follow-up period of 5.5 months, to assess changes in the augmented bone. Patients were monitored clinically for a period ranging from 8 to 20 months (mean: 14.9 months).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average vertical bone gain immediately after surgery was 8.86 mm (SD ± 2.59 mm), while an average bone resorption of 1.49 mm (17.79%) was observed during the follow-up period.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A single WHTPS effectively stabilized the graft material in cases of severe alveolar bone loss, thereby preventing its resorption and displacement. Further clinical studies are necessary to validate its long-term effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194207/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amanda Finger Stadler, Marta Liliana Musskopf, Vishal Gohel, Jonathan Reside, Eric Everett, Patricia Miguez, Cristiano Susin
{"title":"Evaluation of Two Alloplastic Biomaterials in a Critical-Size Rat Calvarial Defect Model.","authors":"Amanda Finger Stadler, Marta Liliana Musskopf, Vishal Gohel, Jonathan Reside, Eric Everett, Patricia Miguez, Cristiano Susin","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060214","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>to evaluate the bone regeneration capacity of two alloplastic biomaterials in a critical-size rat calvarial defect model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 80 rats were randomized into 8 groups of 10 animals each. An Ø8 mm, critical-size calvarial defect was created, and the following treatments were randomly allocated: sham surgery, deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) + collagen membrane (CM), poly-(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) (PLGA)-coated pure phase β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), or PLGA-coated 60% hydroxyapatite (HA):40%β-TCP. Animals were allowed to heal for 2 and 6 weeks. Microcomputed tomography (μCT) was used to evaluate mineralized tissue and biomaterial displacement. Histological samples were used to evaluate new bone formation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>μCT analysis showed no significant differences among groups for total volume of mineralized tissue or residual biomaterials. DBBM + CM showed significantly increased horizontal biomaterial displacement at 2 weeks but not at 6 weeks. Histological analysis showed that sham surgery had a significantly higher percentage of bone area fraction than the DBBM + CM and PLGA + β-TCP at 2 weeks, but not at 6 weeks. Residual biomaterial area fraction showed no significant differences among experimental groups at any healing time.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The alloplastic biomaterials showed suitable construct integrity and retention in the defect. All biomaterials were associated with limited new bone formation comparable to the sham surgery control.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12193959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Federica Leone, Melike Firlak, Kirsty Challen, Wayne Bonnefin, Barbara Onida, Karen L Wright, John G Hardy
{"title":"Correction: Leone et al. In Situ Crosslinking Bionanocomposite Hydrogels with Potential for Wound Healing Applications. <i>J. Funct. Biomater.</i> 2019, <i>10</i>, 50.","authors":"Federica Leone, Melike Firlak, Kirsty Challen, Wayne Bonnefin, Barbara Onida, Karen L Wright, John G Hardy","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060212","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the original publication [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12172873/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144317069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Material-Driven Therapeutics: Functional Nanomaterial Design Paradigms Revolutionizing Osteosarcoma Treatment.","authors":"Zewei Zhang, Fang He, Wenqu Li, Beibei Liu, Cheng Deng, Xiaojuan Qin","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060213","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteosarcoma (OS), a prevalent primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, has maintained consistent treatment protocols since the 1970s combining surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. While effective for localized tumors, these strategies show limited efficacy against metastatic or recurrent cases. Although emerging immunotherapies (PD-1 inhibitors, CAR-T-cell therapy) demonstrate therapeutic potential, their clinical impact remains constrained by the tumor's low immunogenicity and immunosuppressive microenvironment, resulting in suboptimal response rates. The disease's aggressive nature and propensity for pulmonary metastasis contribute to poor prognosis, with survival rates showing negligible improvement over five decades despite therapeutic advances, creating substantial clinical and socioeconomic challenges. Recent developments in nanomedicine offer promising solutions for OS treatment optimization. This review systematically examines nanomaterial applications in OS therapy through a materials science lens, analyzing mechanism-specific interventions and highlighting notable advancements from the past five years. We critically evaluate current strategies for enhancing therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity profiles, ultimately outlining translational pathways and key challenges in clinical adaptation. The analysis establishes a framework for developing next-generation nanotherapeutic platforms to address persistent limitations in OS management.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194080/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Characteristics of Occlusal Force and Masticatory Performance in Female Patients Who Selected Implant Treatment for a Missing Mandibular Second Molar: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Takashi Abe, Motohiro Munakata, Takumi Yokoi, Kikue Yamaguchi, Daisuke Sato, Kazuyoshi Baba","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060211","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060211","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between a patient's selection of implant treatment for a missing mandibular second molar and the magnitude of occlusal force, masticatory ability, mandibular morphology, and age before treatment intervention.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We retrospectively assessed occlusal force, masticatory performance, and mandibular morphology in female patients who either selected or declined implant treatment for a missing unilateral mandibular second molar.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-three women (mean age of 56.1 ± 9.7 years) were divided into an implant treatment (IT) group and a no-treatment (NT) group. The IT group showed significantly higher occlusal force (<i>p</i> = 0.021 < 0.05), while masticatory performance and gonial angle demonstrated no significant difference.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The IT group had significantly higher occlusal force, and age had no significant effect on it. Notably, masticatory performance in the IT group increased significantly with age (<i>p</i> = 0.047 < 0.05).</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194168/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sofia Vieira, Carlos Miguel Marto, Ana Coelho, Inês Amaro, Inês Francisco, Francisco Vale, Siri Paulo, Manuel Marques Ferreira, Eunice Carrilho, Anabela Paula
{"title":"In Vitro Techniques for Microleakage Evaluation of Coronary Restorative Materials: A Scoping and Mapping Review.","authors":"Sofia Vieira, Carlos Miguel Marto, Ana Coelho, Inês Amaro, Inês Francisco, Francisco Vale, Siri Paulo, Manuel Marques Ferreira, Eunice Carrilho, Anabela Paula","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060210","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060210","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To identify the in vitro techniques used for a microleakage evaluation of restorative materials of coronary structure through a scoping and mapping review.</p><p><strong>Data: </strong>This scoping review aims to answer the following question: \"what methods are currently for the microleakage assessment of coronary restorative materials?\"</p><p><strong>Sources: </strong>The Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant studies published between 2020 and 2024. The results obtained were grouped according to the evaluation method, and a narrative synthesis was made.</p><p><strong>Study selection: </strong>The literature search identified 1014 articles, and 353 publications were excluded by title and abstract screening. From the remaining 297, thirty-three were excluded. Additionally, 8 articles could not be retrieved, which resulted in the inclusion of 256 articles. The results were grouped according to the type of microleakage evaluation method, resulting in four major categories: colorimetric, imaging, nuclear medicine, and microbiological methods.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Currently, several microleakage assessment techniques are being used, with the dye method being the most reported one. Several variations in the experimental protocols exist, which make it difficult to compare the results. The use of dyes and nuclear medicine methods is sensitive and can be used to evaluate microleakage.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194229/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Calin Vaida, Andra Ciocan, Andrei Caprariu, Corina Radu, Nadim Al Hajjar, Doina Pisla
{"title":"A 3D-Printed Anatomical Pancreas Model for Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery.","authors":"Calin Vaida, Andra Ciocan, Andrei Caprariu, Corina Radu, Nadim Al Hajjar, Doina Pisla","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060207","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The paper presents the design, manufacturing, and evaluation of a 3D-printed pancreas phantom model used for preoperative surgical planning and surgical training. Several manufacturing and design alternatives have been explored, leading to the final solution, which consisted of a transparent 3D printed elastic shell of the pancreas, resulting in an empty volume that was filled with a custom hydrogel to ensure an anatomically realistic behaviour. Additionally, specific vascular structures were printed using elastic material and specific colours. The hollow shell of the pancreas and the vascular structures were manufactured using photopolymerisation technology. The hydrogel, which replicates the internal structure of the pancreas, was made from a custom proportion of gelatine, agar, and glycerol. The phantom model of the pancreas was assessed by the surgical team and tested using the PARA-SILSROB parallel robot designed for single-incision surgical procedures.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194441/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}