Drug delivery and release are a major challenge fabricating bone tissue engineering. In this study, we fabricated new sustained release hydrogel scaffolds composited of mesoporous bioactive glass, sodium alginate and gelatin by a three-dimensional printing technique. Naringin and calcitonin gene-related peptide were used as drugs to prepare drug-loaded scaffolds by direct printing or surface absorption. The physicochemical properties of the scaffolds and the drug release profiles of the two drug-loading models were investigated. We also examined the biocompatibility of the scaffolds, as well as the effect of the released medium on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human osteoblast-like MG-63 cell. The results showed that the scaffolds had a high porosity (approximately 80%) with an interconnected cubic pore structure, rough surface morphology, bioactivity and strong biocompatibility. Furthermore, the naringin or calcitonin gene-related peptide co-printed into the scaffold displayed a steady sustained release behaviour for up to 21 days without an initial burst release, while both naringin and calcitonin gene-related peptide absorbed onto the surface of the scaffold were completely released within two days. MG-63 cells cultured with the extraction containing released drugs displayed promoted cell proliferation and the expression of osteogenesis-related genes more effectively compared with the drug-free extractions. Therefore, these results demonstrate that the developed mesoporous bioactive glass/sodium alginate/gelatin sustained release scaffolds provide a potential application for bone tissue engineering.

Several circular RNAs (circRNAs) may have role important roles in biological processes, however, there is limited knowledge of circRNAs and their potential functions in RAW264.7 macrophages. The present study aimed to examine the expression of circRNAs and explore their effects on interleukin‑6 (IL‑6) expression induced by calcitonin gene‑related peptide (CGRP) in RAW264.7 macrophages. To identify circRNAs, the circRNA expression was measured in macrophages with or without CGRP stimulation. The interaction between circRNAs and microRNAs (miRs) were then identified using bioinformatic software and networks. In the current study, it was demonstrated that CGRP increased the expression of IL‑6 mRNA in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. Furthermore, mmu_circRNA_007893 was significantly increased in the CGRP‑stimulated macrophages. Silencing of mmu_circRNA_007893, IL‑6 mRNA expression was significantly decreased, whereas mmu‑miR‑485‑5p expression was markedly increased. Furthermore, when overexpression of mmu‑miR‑485‑5p, IL‑6 mRNA was markedly decreased. The results demonstrated that CGRP‑induced IL‑6 mRNA expression was mediated by mmu_circRNA_007893, and mmu_circRNA_007893 functioned as an endogenous mmu‑miR‑485‑5p sponge as part of induction of IL‑6 mRNA expression.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non‑coding RNAs that exhibit important regulatory roles in various biological processes. However, the role of circRNAs and their potential role in osteoblast differentiation and mineralization is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of mmu_circ_003795 and its effect on collagen type XV α 1 chain (COL15A1). First, it was identified that the expression levels of mmu_circ_003795 and osteopontin (OPN) were upregulated in the induced cells. Silencing of mmu_circ_003795 reduced the gene and protein levels of COL15A1 and OPN, whereas the expression level of mmu‑microRNA (miR)‑1249‑5p was upregulated. In addition, after 7 or 14 days of induction, alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red‑S staining were decreased in the mmu_circRNA_003795 inhibitory group compared with the negative control group. In conclusion, mmu_circ_003795 may regulate osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in MC3T3‑E1 and MDPC23 cells via mmu‑miR‑1249‑5p by targeting COL15A1.

This clinical case report describes the application of net-shape-formed self-glazed zirconia prostheses via a complete digital workflow in oral implant and restoration. It demonstrates that by using a novel self-glazed zirconia, the commonly encountered clinical problem of porcelain chipping can be avoided, while the treatment quality and efficiency can be improved.

In the clinical application of ceramic prostheses, micro-leakage, porcelain chipping, low-treatment efficiency and quality uncertainty have appeared as the major problems that dentists encountered. However, the full-contour zirconia monolithic prostheses have the potentials for solving the problems. It appears that the full-contour zirconia monolithic prostheses produced through the fully digital workflow can ensure that the restorations can be closely aligned with the abutment and be easy to adjust and to wear, thus to assure the stability and accuracy of occlusal, which are crucial to the ultimate integration of the full-contour zirconia monolithic prostheses by avoiding unfavourable grinding. The newly developed full digital approach can greatly simplify the previous workflow that involved many manual operations. It improves not only the treatment efficiency but also the reliability of the prostheses by avoiding manual operational mistakes.