Bone tissue engineering: Attaching proteins for better regeneration

Copyright : ©MANA

Guoping Chen, Yoshihiro Ito and researchers at the Tissue
Regeneration Materials Unit, International Center for Materials
Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials
Science, RIKEN, the Immuno-Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd, and
the National Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo,
added a collagen-binding domain from fibronectin to BMP4, a protein
that promotes bone regeneration. The new fusion protein, BMP4-CBD,
was used in a scaffold of natural collagen sponge and a strong
synthetic polymer, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). The
scaffold provides space and support for the bone cell growth.

The researchers investigated the BMP4-CBD immobilized on the
collagen-PLGA scaffold cultured in vivo for four weeks. They
compared the approach with a range of controls including scaffolds
with wild-type BMP4 without the collagen-binding domain and
scaffolds with just the collagen-binding domain. The expression of
specific and non-specific osteogenetic markers used as indicators
of bone tissue regeneration was much higher for BMP4-CBD. Using
BMP4-CBD also initiated calcification.

“These effects should be attributed to the retention of more
effective molecules due to the specific binding of the fusion BMP4
to the collagen,” say the authors. The stimulation effect of
the protein promoting the bone regeneration is thus maintained over
a longer period. The research may benefit patients suffering from
bone defects in the future.

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Further information

Publications and Affiliation:

Hongxu Lu1, Naoki Kawazoe1, Takashi Kitajima2, Yuka Myoken3,
Masahiro Tomita 3, Akihiro Umezawa4, Guoping Chen1*, Yoshihiro
Ito2* Spatial immobilization of bone morphogenetic protein-4 in a
collagen-PLGA hybrid scaffold for enhanced osteoinductivity.
Biomaterials, 33, 6140–6146, (2012).

1. Tissue Regeneration Materials Unit, International Center for
Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for
Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044,
Japan

2. Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory, RIKEN (The Institute of
Physical and Chemical Research), 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako 351-0198,
Japan

3. Neosilk Laboratory, Immuno-Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd.,
3-13-60 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-0046,
Japan

4. National Research Institute for Child Health and Development,
2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan

* Corresponding authors

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Contact details

International Center for Materials
Nanoarchitectonics(WPI-MANA)

1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba-shi Ibaraki, 305-0044 Japan

Email: Guoping Chen, Ph.D<Guoping.CHENnims.go.jp>

Telephone: +81-29-860-4496