Understanding LncRNAs in Biomaterials Development for Osteointegration

Osseointegration of implants is a sophisticated healing process comprising of blood clot formation, immune response, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis. The features of the blood clots take a crucial role in fulfilling rapid and satisfying osseointegration. Nano-scaled implant surfaces can dominate the structure, thickness, and coagulation process of blood clots, thereby influencing inflammation and bone regeneration. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are actively involved in regulating the transcription of protein-coding genes and have profound effects on a variety of biological processes. This chapter will provide a basic introduction of osseointegration processes and LncRNAs, and focus on the effects of LncRNA profiles within nano-scaled implant surface-mediated blood clots on osseointegration. The sequence analysis of LncRNAs manifests that different titania nanotube arrays (TNAs) can mediate the distinct clot-derived LncRNA expression profiles. Moreover, LncRNAs LOC103346307, LOC103352121, LOC108175175, LOC103348180, LOC108176660, and LOC108176465 are identified as the pivotal players in the early formed clots on the nano-scaled surfaces. Further bioinformatic prediction indicates that the key LncRNA profiles target the mRNAs related to cell growth and metabolism, bone resorption, and inflammation. The current knowledge demonstrates that in the early stage of osseointegration, surface nano-scaled characteristics of the implants can significantly influence the LncRNA expression in the blood clots, which affects the immune responses, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis through modulating the transcription of targeted mRNAs involved in multiple signaling pathways. The introduction of this chapter paves a way for better interpreting the link between the properties of a blood clot formed on the nano-surface and new bone formation and presents a reference for understanding LncRNAs in biomaterial development for osteointegration.