Zirconium oxide ceramic foam: a promising supporting biomaterial for massive production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor

• Published in: Journal of Zhejiang University. B. Science Vol. 15; no. 12; pp. 1013 - 1022
• Main Authors: Liu, Zhong-wei, Li, Wen-qiang, Wang, Jun-kui, Ma, Xian-cang, Liang, Chen, Liu, Peng, Chu, Zheng, Dang, Yong-hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hangzhou Zhejiang University Press 01.12.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activation; Animals; Astrocytes - cytology; Astrocytes - metabolism; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biomaterials; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical materials; Biomedicine; Biomedicine & Biotechnology; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Ceramics; Ceramics - chemistry; Culture Media - chemistry; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Foams; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - biosynthesis; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Parkinson Disease - metabolism; Porosity; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Signal Transduction; Surgical implants; Zirconium - chemistry; Zirconium dioxide; Zirconium oxides; 陶瓷泡沫; Zirconium oxide; Ceramic foam; Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF); 氧化锆; 帕金森病; Q819; Parkinson’s disease
• ISSN: 1673-1581; 1862-1783
• DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B1400163

This study investigated the potential application of a zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ) ceramic foam culturing system to the production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Three sets of ZrO 2 ceramic foams with different pore densities of 10, 20, and 30 pores per linear inch (PPI) were prepared to support a 3D culturing system. After primary astrocytes were cultured in these systems, production yields of GDNF were evaluated. The biomaterial biocompatibility, cell proliferation and activation of cellular signaling pathways in GDNF synthesis and secretion in the culturing systems were also assessed and compared with a conventional culturing system. In this study, we found that the ZrO 2 ceramic foam culturing system was biocompatible, using which the GDNF yields were elevated and sustained by stimulated cell proliferation and activation of signaling pathways in astrocytes cultured in the system. In conclusion, the ZrO 2 ceramic foam is promising for the development of a GDNF mass production device for Parkinson’s disease treatment.