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Osteoporosis is a chronic progressive bone disease characterized by the decreased osteogenic ability of osteoblasts coupled with increased osteoclast activity. Natural products showing promising therapeutic potential for postmenopausal osteoporosis remain underexplored. In this study, we aimed to analyze the therapeutic effects of isoliquiritin (ISL) on osteoporosis in mice and its possible mechanism of action. An ovariectomy‐induced osteoporosis mouse model and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were used to analyze the effects of ISL on bone regeneration in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and autophagy inhibitors were used, to investigate whether the MAPK signaling pathway and autophagy affect the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. ISL significantly improved bone formation and reduced bone resorption in mouse femurs without inducing any detectable toxicity in critical organs such as the liver, kidney, brain, heart, and spleen. In vitro experiments showed that ISL enhanced the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and that its osteogenic effect was attenuated by p38/extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) and autophagy inhibitors. Further studies showed that the inhibition of phosphorylated p38/ERK blocked ISL autophagy in BMSCs. ISL promoted the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs through the p38/ERK‐autophagy pathway and was therapeutically effective in treating osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice without any observed toxicity to vital organs. These results strongly suggest the promising potential of ISL as a safe and efficacious candidate drug for the treatment of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds are a new strategy to fabricate biomaterials for treating bone defects. Here, using a 3D-printing technique, we fabricated scaffolds consisting of gelatin (Gel), sodium alginate (SA), and 58S bioactive glass (58S BG). To evaluate mechanical properties and biocompatibility of Gel/SA/58S BG scaffolds, the degradation test, compressive strength test, and cytotoxicity test were performed. The effect of the scaffolds on cell proliferation in vitro was determined by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. To evaluate osteoinductive properties, rBMSCs were cultured on the scaffolds for 7, 14, and 21 days and the expression of osteogenesis-related genes was analyzed using qRT-PCR. To examine the bone healing properties of Gel/SA/58S BG scaffolds in vivo, we used a rat mandibular critical-size defect bone model. The scaffolds were implanted into the defect area of rat mandible and bone regeneration and new tissue formation were assessed using microcomputed tomography (microCT) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The results showed that Gel/SA/58S BG scaffolds had appropriate mechanical strength as a filling material for bone defects. Furthermore, the scaffolds could be compressed within certain limits and then could recover their shape. The extract of the Gel/SA/58S BG scaffold showed no cytotoxicity. In vitro, the expression levels of Bmp2, Runx2, and OCN were increased in rBMSCs cultured on the scaffolds. In vivo, microCT and H&E staining demonstrated that scaffolds induced the formation of new bone at the mandibular defect area. These results indicated that Gel/SA/58S BG scaffolds have excellent mechanical characteristics, biocompatibility, and osteoinductive properties, suggesting that it could be a promising biomaterial for the repair of bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone tissue engineering is a promising approach for tackling clinical challenges. Osteoprogenitor cells, osteogenic factors, and osteoinductive/osteoconductive scaffolds are employed in bone tissue engineering. However, scaffold materials remain limited due to their source, low biocompatibility, and so on. In this study, a composite hydrogel scaffold composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) and sodium alginate (SA) was manufactured using three‐dimensional printing. Naringin (NG) and calcitonin‐gene‐related peptide (CGRP) were used as osteogenic factors in the fabrication of drug‐loaded scaffolds. Investigation using animal experiments, as well as scanning electron microscopy, cell counting kit‐8 testing, alkaline phosphatase staining, and alizarin red‐D staining of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell culture showed that the three scaffolds displayed similar physicochemical properties and that the HA/SA/NG and HA/SA/CGRP scaffolds displayed better osteogenesis than that of the HA/SA scaffold. Thus, the HA/SA scaffold could be a biocompatible material with potential applications in bone regeneration. Meanwhile, NG and CGRP doping could result in better and more positive proliferation and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-glazed zirconia has been recently developed and widely used in crowns owing to its high strength, low wear on opposite teeth, and aesthetic appearance. This clinical study was to explore the application prospect of the bridge restoration made by self-glazed zirconia with a digital process. The results demonstrated that self-glazed zirconia could meet both the aesthetics and functional requirements of anterior and molar teeth in a time-saving and efficient manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This clinical case report describes the fabrication of monolithic self-glazed zirconia prostheses via a digital workflow, for full-arch rehabilitation in a patient with a severely worn dentition. Prostheses composed of self-glazed zirconia are less prone to chipping, and have a lower risk of progressive wear of the opposing natural teeth. The use of a digital workflow not only ensures a higher degree of precision in the fabrication of self-glazed zirconia prostheses, but it also greatly improves patient comfort, and reduces the clinical chairside time required for adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Research Article Isoliquiritin treatment of osteoporosis by promoting osteogenic differentiation and autophagy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by Zhikang Su et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8032 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug delivery and release are a major challenge fabricating bone tissue engineering. In this study, we fabricated new sustained release hydrogel scaffolds composited of mesoporous bioactive glass, sodium alginate and gelatin by a three-dimensional printing technique. Naringin and calcitonin gene-related peptide were used as drugs to prepare drug-loaded scaffolds by direct printing or surface absorption. The physicochemical properties of the scaffolds and the drug release profiles of the two drug-loading models were investigated. We also examined the biocompatibility of the scaffolds, as well as the effect of the released medium on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human osteoblast-like MG-63 cell. The results showed that the scaffolds had a high porosity (approximately 80%) with an interconnected cubic pore structure, rough surface morphology, bioactivity and strong biocompatibility. Furthermore, the naringin or calcitonin gene-related peptide co-printed into the scaffold displayed a steady sustained release behaviour for up to 21 days without an initial burst release, while both naringin and calcitonin gene-related peptide absorbed onto the surface of the scaffold were completely released within two days. MG-63 cells cultured with the extraction containing released drugs displayed promoted cell proliferation and the expression of osteogenesis-related genes more effectively compared with the drug-free extractions. Therefore, these results demonstrate that the developed mesoporous bioactive glass/sodium alginate/gelatin sustained release scaffolds provide a potential application for bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections, particularly in diabetic wounds, represents a major challenge in clinical care due to their high mortality rate. Despite the continued use of antibiotics as the primary clinical treatment for diabetic wounds, there is an urgent need to develop antibiotic-free therapeutic strategies to combat MDR bacteria, given the limitations and resistance of antibiotics. In this study, a "nanotank", MXene@MOF@CORM-401 (MMC), was designed to target bacteria. The basis of this approach is the combination of 2-dimensional transition metal carbides/carbon nitrides (MXene), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs). MMCs exhibit photothermal and photodynamic properties upon irradiation with near-infrared laser. The photodynamic effect generates a substantial quantity of reactive oxygen species, which subsequently triggers the release of carbon monoxide in a "gas bombs"-like manner. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that MMC is not only biocompatible but also exhibits robust antimicrobial properties and accelerates diabetic wound healing. Consequently, this innovative 2-dimensional "nanotank" represents a promising alternative to conventional antibiotic therapies for the treatment of MDR bacterial infections in the future., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Jiyuan Zou et al.)

Bio-Oss ® and α-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are involved in osteogenesis. However, it has remained to be assessed how α-CGRP affects the effect of Bio-Oss. In the present study, primary osteoblasts were incubated with α-CGRP, Bio-Oss, α-GGRP-Bio-Oss or mimic-α-CGRP. The proliferation rate, mineralization nodules, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the expression of osteogenic genes were measured by a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, Alizarin Red-S staining, ALP activity detection and reverse-transcription quantitative PCR as well as western blot analysis, respectively. The proliferation rate, ALP activity and the number of mineralization nodules were significantly increased in the α-CGRP-modified Bio-Oss group compared to that in the Bio-Oss group. The mRNA and protein levels of osteocalcin, Runt-related transcription factor-2 and ALP were significantly upregulated in the α-CGRP-Bio-Oss group compared with those in the Bio-Oss group. Furthermore, the effect of mimic-α-CGRP on osteogenesis was reduced as it carried a mutation. In conclusion, the present study was the first to demonstrate that Bio-Oss modified with CGRP contributed to osteogenesis and may provide a novel formulation applied in the clinic for restoration of large bone defects.