Strontium-Enhanced Osteogenesis in Bone Tissue Engineering
Summary
Strontium-enhanced osteogenesis represents a milestone in bone tissue engineering, harnessing the unique physicochemical and biological properties of strontium ions to promote bone formation while inhibiting bone resorption. Strontium, an alkaline earth metal analogous to calcium, engages the calcium-sensing receptor on bone cells, orchestrating a dual action that stimulates osteoblast proliferation, differentiation and extracellular matrix deposition, and attenuates osteoclast-mediated degradation. Although systemic administration of strontium ranelate has historically demonstrated clinical efficacy in osteoporosis treatment, concerns over off-target effects have prompted a shift towards localised delivery via strontium-doped biomaterials. These include calcium phosphate cements, hydroxyapatite scaffolds and bioactive glasses engineered to release strontium in situ, thereby enhancing osseointegration, angiogenesis and even harbouring antibacterial activity. Mechanistic studies reveal involvement of Wnt/β-catenin, NFAT, ERK1/2 and cAMP/PKA signalling pathways, as well as osteoimmunomodulation through macrophage polarisation. Employed in constructs ranging from injectable pastes to porous three-dimensional frameworks, strontium-based materials are showing promise in repairing osteoporotic fractures, critical-sized bone defects and implant interfaces. With global demographics skewing towards older populations, these innovations offer a tailored approach to strengthen compromised bone and elevate clinical outcomes.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have demonstrated that scaffolds incorporating strontium-doped bioactive glass within a gelatin matrix accelerate early-stage bone formation and exhibit antibacterial properties. In an in vivo rabbit calvarial defect model, strontium-releasing composites enhanced new bone deposition by the 12-week endpoint and showed superior inhibition of Escherichia coli and partial suppression of Staphylococcus aureus compared to strontium-free controls. These findings highlight the dual regenerative and antimicrobial potential of locally released strontium ions in scaffold design.
Strontium-Enhanced Osteogenesis in Bone Tissue Engineering publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in strontium-enhanced osteogenesis in bone tissue engineering across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Osteoblast: A bone-forming cell responsible for synthesising and mineralising bone matrix.
Osteoclast: A bone-resorbing cell that degrades mineralised matrix during bone remodelling.
Osseointegration: The direct structural and functional interface between living bone and the surface of an implant.
Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR): A cell-surface receptor detecting extracellular calcium and similar ions to regulate bone cell activity.
Osteoimmunomodulation: The process by which immune responses are directed to support bone healing and regeneration.
Bioactive glass: A silica-based material that interacts with physiological fluids to bond with bone and release therapeutic ions.
References
- The Influence of Strontium on Bone Tissue Metabolism and Its Application in Osteoporosis Treatment. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
- A review of the latest insights into the mechanism of action of strontium in bone. Bone Reports (2020).
- Strontium modified calcium phosphate cements – approaches towards targeted stimulation of bone turnover. Journal of Materials Chemistry B (2015).
- A bioceramic scaffold composed of strontium-doped three-dimensional hydroxyapatite whiskers for enhanced bone regeneration in osteoporotic defects. Theranostics (2020).
- Essential Role of Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells (NFAT)-mediated Wnt Signaling in Osteoblast Differentiation Induced by Strontium Ranelate*. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2010).
- Low-dose strontium stimulates osteogenesis but high-dose doses cause apoptosis in human adipose-derived stem cells via regulation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2017).
- Effects of strontium ions with potential antibacterial activity on in vivo bone regeneration. Scientific Reports (2021).
- Strontium Functionalized in Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering: A Prominent Role in Osteoimmunomodulation. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2022).
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