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Nanomechanical mapping of bone tissue regenerated by magnetic scaffolds

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Abstract

Nanoindentation can provide new insights on the maturity stage of regenerating bone. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the nanomechanical properties of newly-formed bone tissue at 4 weeks from the implantation of permanent magnets and magnetic scaffolds in the trabecular bone of rabbit femoral condyles. Three different groups have been investigated: MAG-A (NdFeB magnet + apatite/collagen scaffold with magnetic nanoparticles directly nucleated on the collagen fibers during scaffold synthesis); MAG-B (NdFeB magnet + apatite/collagen scaffold later infiltrated with magnetic nanoparticles) and MAG (NdFeB magnet). The mechanical properties of different-maturity bone tissues, i.e. newly-formed immature, newly-formed mature and native trabecular bone have been evaluated for the three groups. Contingent correlations between elastic modulus and hardness of immature, mature and native bone have been examined and discussed, as well as the efficacy of the adopted regeneration method in terms of “mechanical gap” between newly-formed and native bone tissue. The results showed that MAG-B group provided regenerated bone tissue with mechanical properties closer to that of native bone compared to MAG-A or MAG groups after 4 weeks from implantation. Further, whereas the mechanical properties of newly-formed immature and mature bone were found to be fairly good correlated, no correlation was detected between immature or mature bone and native bone. The reported results evidence the efficacy of nanoindentation tests for the investigation of the maturity of newly-formed bone not accessible through conventional analyses.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the European Project “Magnetic Scaffolds for in vivo Tissue Engineering” (NMP3-LA-2008-214686) and by the project “Nanostructured Coatings Enhancing Material Performances in Joint Arthroplasty” (project code_2012-1838) co-founded by the Italian Ministry of Health. The authors would like to particularly thank Dr. Elettra Pignotti for her contribution to the statistical analysis.

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Correspondence to Michele Bianchi.

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Bianchi, M., Boi, M., Sartori, M. et al. Nanomechanical mapping of bone tissue regenerated by magnetic scaffolds. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 26, 35 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-014-5363-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-014-5363-5

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