Bio-inspired liquid crystal gel induction via nano-hydroxyapatite mesogens: Viscoelastic and hemostasis regulation under bone remodeling pH and temperature control

BENEDINI, LUCIANO A.; RAUSCHEMBERGER, MA. BELEN; GENOVESE, DIEGO; MESSINA, PAULA V.

Materials Today Communications

Elsevier

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2024 vol. 38

2352-4928

In this work, a liquid crystal mesophase as a potential bone-repairing booster has been induced from a polyacrylicacid (PAAc) gel loaded with synthetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHA) under physiological conditionsof pH and temperature that resemble the early stages of bone formation. Dynamic processes at the microscale inbiological systems require a material capable of behaving following a specific order and fluency. Besides, theymust fulfill conditions such as biocompatibility and good mechanical properties. Our study aimed to obtain newdata about the safety, hemostasis, biocompatibility (activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) test, prothrombintime (PT) test, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test, red blood cell morphology observation, hemolysispercentage) and physicochemical/mechanical behavior (Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR), Infrared spectroscopyand rheological assays) of nanoparticles, and materials built with them. Both systems have shownbiocompatibility with red blood cells and adequate flow properties, demonstrating promising qualities forapplicability. The formation of lyotropic liquid crystals at physiological conditions was evaluated with crossedpolaroids microscope with a temperature control plate. The formation of these structures under bone remodelingconditions shows the potential application of PAAc-nHA materials. In literature, the study of materials applied asbone fillers is mainly focused on mechanical and osteoblasts compatibility assays. However, the hematologicaleffect, consequences on the coagulation cascade, the integrity of cell membranes, and hemolysis percentage havenot been addressed thoroughly. The strength of our work is focused on considering these aspects when tridimensionalarrangements essential for bone formation are formed.