2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (21): 3410-3414

Application of copper ion in bone tissue engineering: biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, angiogenic activity and osteogenic activity

Guo Sutong, Guo Yu, Wang Ling, Li Yaxin, Ding Yujian, Gao Jingfeng, Xu Haitao, Ren Tianhao, Feng Dehong   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Due to its good biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, angiogenic activity and osteogenic activity, copper ion has been increasingly studied and applied in the field of bone tissue engineering.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research and application of copper ion in bone tissue engineering and its future development direction.
METHODS: The relevant articles published between February 2000 and February 2021 were retrieved on PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases. The English and Chinese search terms were “copper, biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, angiogenesis, osteogenic differentiation, bone tissue engineering”.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In the field of bone tissue, copper ion has good biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, angiogenic activity and osteogenic activity. At the cellular level, copper ions can promote the differentiation of osteoblasts, inhibit osteoclast differentiation and affect bone metabolism. At the molecular biology level, copper ions can affect the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α pathway and ERK1/2 signal transduction, Integrin signaling, and TLR signaling, which affect bone metabolism. (2) There are relatively few studies on the mechanism of copper angiogenesis and osteogenesis. (3) The research on the application of copper ions in bone tissue engineering may reduce the occurrence of periprosthesis infection and prosthesis loosening to some extent.
Key words: copper, biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, angiogennesis, osteogenic activity, bone tissue engineering, review