TITLE:
Acellular Mineralized Exoskeleton Shrimp (MES): A Natural Source of Bioactive Factors for Tissue Regeneration—Preliminary Results
AUTHORS:
Raquel Zita Gomes, Rodrigo Valdoleiros e Silva, Américo Afonso, Maria Helena Fernandes, Mário Vasconcelos, José Cavalheiro
KEYWORDS:
Guided Bone Regeneration, Biomaterial, Biocompatibility, Oral Surgery
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.10 No.3,
March
4,
2022
ABSTRACT: Current challenges in the development of scaffolds for bone regeneration include the engineering of biomaterials that can withstand a natural dynamic physiology on the bone that provides a matrix capable of supporting cell migration and tissue ingrowth. The objective of the present work was to develop and characterize a new biomembrane—Mineralized Exoskeleton Shrimp (MES) developed from the exoskeleton of paleomonetes. The integration of MES as a biomaterial for tissue regeneration relies on the growing evidence that the shrimp is characterized by a hierarchically arranged chitin fiber structure, mineralized predominately by calcium carbonate and/or calcium phosphate, bringing beneficial effects in bone regeneration. Additionally, the tridimensional MES structure, can act as a “tent” for Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). Recently, our team has characterized the MES biomaterial by in vitro (human osteoblastic cellular cultures and immersion of the membrane in modified synthetic plasma) and in vivo (soft tissue in lab mice and hard tissue in rabbit model). The cellular growth in the MES membrane was very exuberant in cellular culture with osteoblastic colonization on its surface (histophilic and biocompatible). After the immersion in modified synthetic plasma for one week, a mass mineralization occurred throughout the membrane’s surface (bioactive). The analysis of histological samples from experimental surgery in lab mice showed that the MES membrane wasn’t toxic to soft tissues and that it caused a moderate inflammatory response (first reabsorption signs at 8 weeks). The MES could act as a cell-guiding template that contains the necessary cues and adequate three-dimensional set to facilitate cell adhesion and promote tissue regeneration upon implantation and subsequent biodegradation.