Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (32): 8443-8453.doi: 10.12307/2025.876

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Characterization and biological performance of manganese-doped hydroxyapatite/polydopamine composite materials

Yu Qiming, Di Jingyi, Zhang Hao, Chen Jilong, Xiao Hui, Hu Tuqiang   

  1. Department of Stomatology, Shiyan Renmin Hospital (Affiliated Renmin Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China
  • Accepted:2026-02-04 Online:2026-11-18 Published:2026-04-27
  • Contact: Hu Tuqiang, MD, Chief physician, Department of Stomatology, Shiyan Renmin Hospital (Affiliated Renmin Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China
  • About author:Yu Qiming, MS candidate, Physician, Department of Stomatology, Shiyan Renmin Hospital (Affiliated Renmin Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine), Shiyan 442000, Hubei Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Hubei Provincial Health Research Fund, No. WJ2021M054 (to YQM); Graduate Science and Technology Innovation Project of Hubei University of Medicine, No. YC2024061 (to YQM)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hydroxyapatite is widely used in bone tissue engineering due to its excellent osteoconductivity. However, its limited osteoinductivity restricts its clinical application and therapeutic efficacy.
OBJECTIVE: To prepare novel manganese-doped hydroxyapatite/polydopamine (Mn-HA/PDA) composite bone graft materials and characterize their physicochemical and biological properties.
METHODS: (1) Using Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O as the calcium source, (NH4)2HPO4 as the phosphorus source, and manganese nitrate solution as the manganese source, manganese-doped hydroxyapatite was prepared by hydrothermal homogeneous coprecipitation with manganese/(calcium+manganese) molar ratios of 5%, 10%, and 15%, respectively. The corresponding materials were denoted as 5Mn-HA, 10Mn-HA, and 15Mn-HA. Hydroxyapatite and the three manganese-doped hydroxyapatite materials were immersed in dopamine hydrochloride-Tris buffer solution to prepare manganese-doped hydroxyapatite/polydopamine composite materials, denoted as HA/PDA, 5Mn-HA/PDA, 10Mn-HA/PDA, and 15Mn-HA/PDA, respectively. The morphology, manganese ion release, degradation rate, and cell compatibility of the materials were characterized. The manganese-doped material with better cell compatibility was selected for subsequent experiments. (2) Hydroxyapatite, HA/PDA, 5Mn-HA, and 5Mn-HA/PDA were co-cultured with rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. After osteogenic induction, alkaline phosphatase activity detection and Alizarin Red S staining were performed, and Runx2 and osteocalcin mRNA expression levels were detected by q-PCR. (3) A 5 mm diameter full-thickness circular bone defect was created on both sides of the skull of 24 SD rats. Hydroxyapatite, HA/PDA, 5Mn-HA, and 5Mn-HA/PDA were implanted into the right bone defect (6 rats per material), while the left bone defect was untreated (blank control). Samples were collected at 4 and 8 weeks post-surgery for Micro-CT scanning, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and Masson staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The manganese-doped hydroxyapatite/polydopamine composite material exhibited a microsphere morphology with a particle size distribution ranging from 9.86 to 13 μm. With increasing manganese doping concentration, the release of manganese ions from the material increased, and the manganese ion release rate of the manganese-doped hydroxyapatite/polydopamine composite material was lower than that of the corresponding manganese-doped hydroxyapatite material. Compared with manganese-doped hydroxyapatite, the manganese-doped hydroxyapatite/polydopamine composite exhibited a faster degradation rate. Based on the results of live/dead cell staining and CCK-8 assay of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, 5Mn-HA showed no significant cytotoxicity; therefore, 5Mn-HA and 5Mn-HA/PDA were selected for subsequent experiments. (2) Based on the results of alkaline phosphatase activity assay, Alizarin Red S staining, and q-PCR, 5Mn-HA/PDA exhibited stronger osteogenic differentiation ability than the other three materials. (3) Micro-CT scanning showed that the blank control group had the slowest bone repair rate and the least amount of new bone formation, while the 5Mn-HA/PDA group had the fastest bone repair rate and the most new bone formation. Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining further confirmed the Micro-CT scanning results. (4) The results indicate that the manganese-doped hydroxyapatite/polydopamine composite material possesses excellent physicochemical and biological properties.

Key words: bone regeneration, hydroxyapatite microspheres, polydopamine, manganese ions, metal ions, bone defect repair

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