Papers by Author: Yuki Shirosaki

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.