Enhancing 3D-Printed Medical Implants with Garlic Extract Nanoemulsions

Greg Howard
29th August, 2024

Enhancing 3D-Printed Medical Implants with Garlic Extract Nanoemulsions

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Washington State University developed 3D-printed bone scaffolds with garlic extract to treat complex bone diseases
  • The garlic extract, encapsulated in nanoemulsions, showed controlled release, enhancing stability and bioavailability
  • The scaffolds significantly reduced osteosarcoma cell growth by 88% and decreased bacterial growth by over 90%, without harming healthy bone cells
Complex bone diseases such as osteomyelitis, osteosarcoma, and osteoporosis often result in critical-sized bone defects that the body cannot self-repair. These conditions necessitate advanced bone graft materials for effective treatment. A recent study by researchers at Washington State University has developed a promising solution using 3D-printed tricalcium phosphate bone scaffolds functionalized with garlic extract (GE)[1]. Garlic extract was encapsulated in a nanoemulsion (GE-NE) to enhance its bioavailability and stability. This encapsulation process achieved approximately 73% drug encapsulation efficiency, with an average particle size of 158 nanometers and a zeta potential of -14.2 millivolts. The release of GE-NEs from the scaffold exhibited a controlled and biphasic release profile in both acidic and physiological mediums, ensuring a sustained therapeutic effect. The study demonstrated that GE-NE significantly reduced osteosarcoma cell growth by about 88% while exhibiting no cytotoxicity toward bone-forming cells. This is a crucial finding, as current treatments for osteosarcoma often struggle with balancing efficacy against cancer cells and safety for healthy cells[2]. Additionally, the functionalized scaffold showed a substantial reduction in bacterial growth, with more than a 90% decrease in both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to the unfunctionalized scaffold. This dual functionality of the scaffold addresses both cancerous and infectious complications, which are common in bone diseases[3]. Previous studies have highlighted the need for multifunctional bone constructs to manage critical-sized osseous defects effectively[4]. These constructs should ideally possess advanced microarchitecture, well-defined pore interconnectivity, and supply biological signals to guide tissue regeneration while preventing post-implantation complications. The current study builds on this by incorporating natural medicine-based localized drug delivery into the 3D-printed scaffold, offering a controlled release of therapeutic agents. Earlier research has also explored the use of 3D-printed polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-based bone scaffolds with multifunctional properties, including photothermal conversion and drug delivery capabilities[5]. While these studies demonstrated the potential of combining advanced materials with therapeutic agents, the current study by Washington State University takes a novel approach by using a natural extract, thereby potentially reducing side effects and increasing biocompatibility. The encapsulation of GE in nanoemulsions ensures that the bioactive compounds remain stable and are released in a controlled manner, addressing one of the key challenges in drug delivery systems. This method enhances the therapeutic efficacy of the scaffold while minimizing adverse effects on healthy cells. The biphasic release profile is particularly beneficial as it provides an initial burst release to combat infection or cancer cells, followed by a sustained release to support long-term healing and regeneration. In summary, the study from Washington State University presents a significant advancement in the treatment of complex bone diseases. By functionalizing 3D-printed tricalcium phosphate scaffolds with garlic extract encapsulated in nanoemulsions, the researchers have developed a multifunctional scaffold that effectively targets osteosarcoma cells and bacterial infections without harming healthy bone-forming cells. This innovative approach holds promise for improving outcomes in patients with critical-sized bone defects, particularly in non-load-bearing applications.

MedicineHealthBiotech

References

Main Study

1) Improving Biological Performance of 3D-Printed Scaffolds with Garlic-Extract Nanoemulsions.

Published 28th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c05588

Related Studies

3) Osteosarcoma incidence and survival rates from 1973 to 2004: data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.24121

4) Micelle encapsulated curcumin and piperine-laden 3D printed calcium phosphate scaffolds enhance in vitro biological properties.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113563

5) 3D-Printed Multifunctional Polyetheretherketone Bone Scaffold for Multimodal Treatment of Osteosarcoma and Osteomyelitis.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c10898


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