Papers by Author: Masahiro Ashizuka

Abstract: Natural bone is a kind of organic-inorganic hybrid composed of collagen and apatite crystals with a structure that provides specific mechanical properties such as high fracture toughness and flexibility. Materials exhibiting both high flexibility and bioactivity similar to natural bone are required for novel bone-repairing materials in medical fields. We expect that we can design such materials by mimicking the bone structure. Biomimetic process has been paid much attention where bone-like apatite is deposited on organic polymers in simulated body fluid (SBF). In this study, we investigated influence of cross-linking agents on apatite-forming ability of pectin gels. Pectin is a polysaccharide abundant in carboxyl group. Pectin gels were prepared by cross-linking of pectin aqueous solutions with calcium ions or divinylsulfone (DVS). Apatite-forming ability of the gels was examined in SBF. The citrus-derived pectin showed tendency to form the largest amount of the apatite independent on a kind of cross-linking agents in SBF.

Abstract: Apatite-polymer hybrids are expected as novel bone substitutes exhibiting bone-bonding ability and mechanical performances analogous to those of natural bone. In this study, we attempted preparation of organic-inorganic hybrids from different pectins such as pectic acid, apple-derived pectin and citrus-derived pectin through apatite deposition in simulated body fluid (SBF). Pectin gels were prepared by CaCl2 treatment of aqueous solutions of pectin. Apatite-forming ability of the gels was examined in SBF. The citrus-derived pectin showed tendency to form the largest amount of the apatite in SBF.

Abstract: So-called bioactive ceramics bond to living bone through the apatite layer formed on their surfaces in the body. The apatite deposition is triggered by dissolution of calcium ion (Ca2+) and by silanol (Si-OH) group formed on the surfaces of the ceramics. It is expected that organic modification of these components would produce bioactive materials with high flexibility. In this study, we examined bioactivity and mechanical properties of the organic-inorganic hybrids from starch by modification with silanol group and calcium ion. Effect of cross-linking agent was also investigated. The obtained hybrids showed bioactivity and mechanical properties analogous to those of human cancellous bone by appropriate control in their compositions. Addition of cross-linking agent to improve mechanical strength of the hybrids did not decrease their bioactivity.

Abstract: Organic-inorganic hybrids composed of organic polymer and apatite is quite attractive as novel bone-repairing materials since it has mechanical performance analogous to those of natural bone as well as bone-bonding ability, i.e. bioactivity. To fabricate such an apatite-polymer hybrid, biomimetic process has been recently paid much attention. In this process, bone-like apatite is deposited on the surfaces of organic substrates in simulated body fluid (SBF, Kokubo solution) having ion concentrations analogous to those of human extracellular fluid or more concentrated solutions. Previous studies showed that the apatite deposition is triggered by a catalytic effect of carboxyl groups (COOH) on the surfaces of the organic substrates. In this study, we examined apatite deposition on natural polypeptides derived from crops in a biomimetic solution. We selected gluten derived from wheat and zein derived from corn. Both of gluten and zein formed bone-like apatite on their surfaces in a solution that has inorganic ion concentrations 1.5 times those of simulated body fluid, when they were treated with 1 mol/L calcium chloride solution. High content of acidic amino acids such as glutamic acid and aspartic acid in gluten and zein would give large amount of carboxyl groups effective for the apatite nucleation.

Abstract: Organic polymers with ability of apatite formation in body environment are expected as novel bone substitutes having not only bone-bonding ability, i.e. bioactivity, but also mechanical performance analogous to natural bone. Several metal oxides have been found to be effective for the apatite deposition in body environment. In addition, release of calcium ions from the materials significantly enhances it. In this study, we attempted to synthesize bioactive organic-inorganic hybrids from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by incorporation of titanium oxide or zirconium oxide as well as calcium salt. Ability of apatite formation on the hybrids was examined in vitro using simulated body fluid (SBF, Kokubo solution). Apatite deposition was observed to occur on the surfaces of PVA/titanium oxide hybrids in SBF, when their compositions were appropriately controlled.

Abstract: Apatite formation in living body is essential condition for artificial materials to exhibit bone-bonding ability, i.e. bioactivity. It has been recently revealed that sulfonic group triggers apatite nucleation in body environment. Organic-inorganic hybrids consisting of organic polymer and the sulfonic group are therefore expected to be useful for novel bone-repairing materials exhibiting flexibility as well as bioactivity. In the present study, organic-inorganic hybrids were prepared from vinylsulfonic acid sodium salt and hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), a kind of acrylic polymer. Bioactivity of the hybrids was assessed in vitro by examining their acceptance of apatite formation in simulated body fluid (SBF, Kokubo solution). The obtained hybrids showed the apatite deposition after soaking in SBF within 7 d.

Abstract: Organic-inorganic composites composed of organic polymer and carbonate hydroxyapatite (CHAp) would be useful bone substitute materials exhibiting low young’s modulus and bone-bonding bioactivity. In this work, such a composite was synthesized from cellulose (CEL)and CHAp through mechanochemical reaction. Homogeneous bulk CEL-CHAp composites were obtained when poly( ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was added as plasticizer with PCL/(PCL+CEL) weight ratio of 20 wt% or less. The CEL-CHAp composites contained B-type CHAp in inorganic phase. The composites with (CEL+PCL)/(CHAp) weight ratio = 20/80 and 10/90 kept the shape in simulated body fluid (SBF), and showed apatite formation after soaking in SBF. Therefore, the CEL-CHAp composites are expected to be materials with low young’s modulus and bioactivity.

Abstract: Organic polymers with ability of apatite formation in body environment are expected as novel bone substitutes having not only bone-bonding ability, i.e. bioactivity, but also mechanical performance analogous to natural bone. Several metal oxides have been found to be effective for the apatite deposition in body environment. In addition, release of calcium ions from the materials significantly enhances it. In this study, we attempted to synthesize bioactive organic-inorganic hybrids from Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by incorporation of various metal oxides and calcium salt. Silica and molybdenum oxides were selected as metal oxides. Ability of apatite formation on the hybrids was examined in vitro using simulated body fluid (SBF, Kokubo solution). Apatite deposition were observed to occur on the surfaces of PVA/silica and PVA/molybdenum oxide hybrids in SBF, when their compositions were appropriately controlled.