Keywords

osteoporosis; nanoparticle; immunomodulation; biomaterial; gene therapy; bone regeneration

Abstract

Osteoporosis affects over 200 million individuals worldwide and is characterized by an imbalance between osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoblastic bone formation, leading to fragility fractures that significantly diminish quality of life. Current clinical bone cements, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), are limited by poor osseointegration, toxic monomers, and an inability to address the underlying pathophysiology of osteoporosis. This work presents the synthesis, characterization, and systematic in vitro evaluation of a sol-gel-derived, magnesium-incorporated glass-ceramic (GC) nanoparticle within the CaO-MgO-SiO2 system for incorporation into a novel hydrogel bone cement and bioresorbable magnesium implants. XRD confirmed a biphasic amorphous-crystalline diopside composition, and TEM revealed some nanoscale particle dimensions of 50-250 nm. FAAS analysis demonstrated sustained release of calcium, silicon, and magnesium ions within osteogenic, angiogenic, and immunomodulatory concentration ranges, according to previous literature. GC nanoparticles exhibited favorable cytocompatibility with RAW 264.7 macrophages and hBMSCs at low concentrations. Furthermore, GC nanoparticles elicited a greater anti-inflammatory IL-1ra secretion and attenuated pro-inflammatory TNF-α release relative to HA nanoparticles, collectively indicative of a potential M2 macrophage polarization. Preliminary in vivo histological assessment demonstrated enhanced bone matrix deposition in Mg-5BG-implanted femurs compared to control and empty sham femurs. Finally, nanobubbles were successfully incorporated into a thermoresponsive, ultrasound-responsive Poloxamer 407 hydrogel, and future work will focus on further characterization of this hydrogel.

Thesis Completion Year

2026

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Razavi, Mehdi

College

College of Medicine

Department

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences

Thesis Discipline

Biomedical Sciences

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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