Ceramic‐hydrogel composite as carrier for cold‐plasma reactive‐species: Safety and osteogenic capacity in vivo

• Published in: Plasma processes and polymers 2023-01, Vol.20 (1), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Solé‐Martí, Xavi, Labay, Cédric, Raymond, Yago, Franch, Jordi, Benitez, Raul, Ginebra, Maria‐Pau, Canal, Cristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; bone graft; Calcium phosphates; ceramic‐hydrogel composite; cold atmospheric plasma; Defects; Hydrogels; In vivo methods and tests; local therapy; plasma‐treated polymer solutions; Rabbits; Safety; Surgical implants
• ISSN: 1612-8850; 1612-8869
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.202200155

Plasma‐treated hydrogels have been put forward as a potential selective osteosarcoma therapy through the release of reactive species to the diseased site. To allow their translation to the clinics, it is crucial to show that the oxidative stress delivered by such hydrogels does not adversely affect healthy tissues. This is evaluated here by investigating the in vivo performance of a robocasted calcium phosphate cement infiltrated by a plasma‐treated hydrogel. The plasma‐treated composite implanted in a critical size bone defect of healthy rabbits revealed its safety, allowing equivalent bone ingrowth compared to the control scaffolds and to that of direct plasma treatment of the bone defect. This opens the door for using composite biomaterials containing plasma‐generated reactive species in bone therapies. In this study, a novel composite based on calcium phosphate ceramic and the plasma‐treated hydrogel is developed. With such a combination it is possible to supplement the excellent bone regenerative properties of calcium phosphates bone grafts with an anticancer agent, that is, the plasma‐treated hydrogel. While being selective toward OS cells in vitro, this novel material does not compromise bone regeneration in an in vivo scenario.