Doxycycline-doped membranes induced osteogenic gene expression on osteoblastic cells

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze how novel developed silicon dioxide composite membranes, functionalized with zinc or doxycycline, can modulate the expression of genes related to the osteogenic functional capacity of osteoblastic cells. Methods: The composite nanofibers membranes were manufactured by using a novel polymeric blend and 20 nm silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs). To manufacture the membranes, 20 nm SiO2-NPs were added to the polymer solution and the resulting suspension was processed by electrospinning. In a second step, the membranes were functionalized with zinc or doxycycline. Then, they were subjected to MG63 osteoblast-like cells culturing for 48 h. After this time, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was carried out to study the expression of Runx-2, OSX, ALP, OSC, OPG, RANKL, Col-I, BMP-2, BMP-7, TGF-β1, VEGF, TGF-βR1, TGF- βR2, and TGF-βR3. Mean comparisons were conducted by One-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (p < 0.05). Results: In general, the blending of SiO2-NPs in the tested non-resorbable polymeric scaffold improves the expression of osteogenic genes over the control membranes. Doxycycline doping of experimental scaffolds attained the best results, encountering up-regulation of BMP-2, ALP, OPG, TGFβ-1 and TGFβ-R1. Membranes with zinc induced a significant increase in the expression of Col-I, ALP and TGF β1. Both, zinc and doxycycline functionalized membranes enormously down-regulated the expression of RANKL. Conclusions: Zinc and doxycycline doped membranes are bioactive inducing overexpression of several osteogenic gene markers. Clinical significance: Doxycycline doped membranes may be a potential candidate for use in GBR procedures in several challenging pathologies, including periodontal diseases.