Papers by Author: Akiyoshi Osaka

Abstract: The treatment of peripheral nerve injuries is still one of the most challenging tasks in neurosurgery, as functional recovery is rarely satisfactory in these patients. The concept behind the use of biodegradable nerve guides is that no foreign material should be left in place after the device has fulfilled its task, so as to spare a second surgical intervention. In a previous study, flexible and biodegradable chitosan-γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) hybrid membranes exhibited better cytocompatibility in terms of osteoblastic cells than chitosan membrane. Porous chitosan hybrid membranes, derived by freeze-drying the hybrid gels, showed that the cells were attached and proliferated both on the surface and into pores. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of these chitosan hybrid membranes in terms of their inflammatory response and remodeling of connective tissue during wound-healing processes before use as a periphery nerve graft. The porous chitosan hybrid membranes showed good biocompatibility and improved posttraumatic axonal regrowth and functional recovery.

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles were synthesized by solid-state reaction and wet chemical reaction, and were characterized in terms of their chemical composition, disordered structure and in vitro biodegradability. An X-ray diffraction study revealed that the prepared HAp particles were composed of single phase HAp, while 1D and 2D solid-state NMR analysis showed that they consisted of not only crystalline HAp but also a disordered phase. An in vitro biodegradability test showed that wet chemically derived HAp particles were degraded quicker than commercially available HAP-100. The in vitro biodegradability was discussed by using a structure model for nanocrystalline HAp, in which the nanocrystals consist of a crystalline HAp core covered with a disordered surface layer (core-shell model). Although the specific surface area was the predominant factor on the rate of Ca ion dissolution, the disordered surface layer enhanced the release of Ca ions in the initial stage within 1 min, while the crystalline core of HAp also gave different release rate of Ca ions, depending on the chemical distribution in the P (V) environment.

Abstract: A recently developed “GRAPE^® technology” provides titanium or titanium alloy implants with spontaneous apatite-forming ability in vitro, which requires properly designed gaps and optimum heat treatment in air. In this study, pure titanium pieces were thermally oxidized in air and pre-irradiated by UV-light under different environmental conditions such as in air or in ultra-pure water before aligning pairs of specimens in the GRAPE^® set-up, i.e., two pieces of titanium substrates were aligned parallel to each other with optimum gap width (spatial design). Then, they were soaked in Kokubo’s simulated body fluid (SBF, pH7.4, 36.5°C) for 1-2 days to clarify how the UV-light pre-irradiation affects the in vitro apatite nucleation on the substrates under the specific spatial design. UV-light pre-irradiation in water led to the deposition of a large number of apatite particles within 1 day, and showed apatite X-ray diffraction, although UV-light pre-irradiation in air and non-pretreated specimens gave the deposition of a few apatite particles and did not show any apatite X-ray diffraction. These results indicated that the rate of primary heterogeneous nucleation of apatite increased by UV-light pre-irradiation in ultra-pure water. TF-XRD patterns of the surface of the substrates thermally oxidized in air at 500°C showed the peak at 2θ = 27º assignable to the 110 diffraction of rutile phase of titanium dioxide (ICDD-JCPDS data #21-1276). Previous studies reported that the primary heterogeneous nucleation must be induced by Ti-OH groups on titanium oxide layer. Probably, the UV-light pre-irradiation in ultra-pure water can increase the number of Ti-OH groups on the surface, resulting in accelerated primary heterogeneous nucleation of apatite.

Abstract: Chitosan-GPTMS (γ-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane) hybrid hydrogels were synthesized with β-glycerophosphate (β-GP) as the additive agent. Chitosan-GPTMS sols were fluid at room temperature and transformed to hydrogel at 36.5°C in several min. The gelation time of the hydrogels was shortened by the addition of GPTMS. From NMR experiments, this gelation behavior depended on some factors, namely, electrostatic interaction between the phosphate groups of β-GP and the amino groups of chitosan chains, crosslinking between the epoxy groups of GPTMS and the amino groups of chitosan, and polycondensation of the methoxy groups of GPTMS. The Si(IV) released from the hydrogels promoted the cell adhesion and ALP activity of osteoblastic cells MG63.

Abstract: Injectable hydroxyapatite/collagen nanocomposite (HAp/Col) artificial bone was prepared utilizing gelation of sodium alginate (Na-Alg). Mass ratio of the HAp/Col powder, with or without Ca adsorption treatment and Na-Alg (80-120, 300-400, 500-600 cP in viscosity at 10 g/dm³) was fixed at 90/10. Injectable HAp/Col was prepared by mixing the HAp/Col powder with Na-Alg solution at several powder (HAp/Col)/liquid (Na-Alg solution) ratios (P/L ratio, g/cm³). The result of consistency measurement suggested that the operability of injectable HAp/Col paste could be controlled by both the P/L ratio and the viscosity of Na-Alg solution. According to the consistency measurement and practical feelings during mixing, P/L=1/1.67 (80-120 cP) and 1/1.89 (300-400, 500-600 cP) were considered to be the highest P/L ratio allowed to mix the HAp/Col paste with a spatula. At the P/L=1/2.33 (80-120 cP), the paste prepared with the non-treated HAp/Col powder, placed in an incubator (37 °C,relative humidity 100%) for 24h, demonstrated gel-like property, while the paste prepared with Ca-treated HAp/Col powder did putty-like property. The difference in their property might be caused by the initial bonding behavior between Alg and Ca²⁺ after mixing. The setting time measurement with Gillmore needle was impossible because they were toosoft for this method. Even though, their operability and coalescence/settingproperty could be used as the injectable bone filler.

Abstract: The incorporation of ions in the lattice of hydroxyapatite alters significantly its structure. Particularly, if anions such as trigonal borate units are accommodated in the lattice severe distortions must occur around the substitution site because of different geometric shape, electric charge and anion size. Solid-state NMR has been used to investigate this problem in detail for a hydroxyapatite sample synthesized by high temperature solid state reaction. The results clearly verify the existence of network distortions. Indeed, only about 1/3 of the total phosphate content forms crystalline hydroxyapatite (also found in XRD) whereas the residual amount is contained in two different phosphate sites with 31P chemical shifts of 5.5 ppm and 2.3 ppm, but broad resonances lines suggesting disorder. Furthermore, a novel proton signal at -0.6 ppm was found which is directly associated with the borate incorporation. No specific correlation of the two structurally different borate units with the two phosphate groups is found.

Abstract: The paper presents a simple chemical treatment to provide various non-metallic substrates such as polypropylene or polyethylene with in vitro bioactivity or ability to deposit apatite in SBF. Anatase/rutile dual layers were deposited at low temperature on the substrates when they were soaked in TiOSO4/H2O2 solution and aged in hot water: The dense bottom layer predominantly consisted of rutile, while the upper layer consisted of loosely packed aggregation of anatase particles. The titania deposition was the results of compromise among two conflicting processes: 1) hydrolysis of TiOSO4 to yield either soluble titania-H2O2 complexes or titania, and 2) dissolution of the titania layer under the presence of H2O2. The dissolution-deposition equilibrium was found associated with pH of the sulfate solution. Thus, proper pH value in the treating solution was the key factor to control the formation of dense titania layers. The resulted titania layers were easily covered with fine apatite particles when soaked in SBF supersaturated with its component ions.

Abstract: Previous in vitro studies confirmed an improved cytocompatibility of chitosan-silicate hybrid membranes over chitosan membranes. The main goal of this study was to assess the in vivo histocompatibility of both membranes through subcutaneous implantations at different time periods, 1 week, 1, 2 and 3 months, using a sheep model. Chitosan membranes elicited an exuberant inflammatory response and were consequently rejected. The hybrid chitosan membranes were not rejected and the degree of inflammatory response decreased gradually until the third month of implantation. Histological evaluation also showed that these membranes can be resorbed in vivo. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of silicate into the chitosan solution improves its histocompatibility, indicating that the hybrid chitosan-silicate membranes are suitable candidates to be used in clinical applications.

Abstract: Apatite formation on the surface of materials in body environment is an essential condition to show osteoconduction after implantation in bony defects. This study reports the novel technique for providing the apatite-forming ability to titanium metals by only controlling the spatial gap and thermal oxidation. Two pieces of titanium thermally oxidized at 400 °C were set together like V-letter with varied mouth opening. They showed the formation of apatite on both facing surface after exposure to a simulated body fluid (SBF) proposed by Kokubo and his colleagues, when the gap was less than approximately 600 μm. Moreover, specimens with micro-grooves of 500 μm in depth and 200-1000 μm in width was able to form apatite in SBF with in 7 days, after they were thermally oxidized at 400 oC. These results indicated that the titanium metals were provided with apatite-forming ability, i.e. osteoconduction, due to controlled gap with thermally oxidized surface. Hence, we conclude that bioactive titanium substrate showing osteoconduction can be produced by designed machining followed by thermal oxidation at an appropriate temperature.