Nano implant surface triggers autophagy through membrane curvature distortion to regulate the osteogenic differentiation

Abstract Anodized titania nanotubes have been considered as an effective coating for bone implants due to their ability to induce osteogenesis, whereas the osteogenic mechanism is not fully understood. Our previous study has revealed the potential role of autophagy in osteogenic regulation of nanotubular surface, whereas how the autophagy is activated remains unknown. In this study, we focused on the cell membrane curvature-sensing protein Bif-1 and its effect on the regulation of autophagy. Both autophagosomes formation and autophagic flux were enhanced on the nanotubular surface, as indicated by LC3-II accumulation and p62 degradation. In the meanwhile, the Bif-1 was significantly upregulated, which contributed to autophagy activation and osteogenic differentiation through Beclin-1/PIK3C3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, these findings have bridged the gap between extracellular physical nanotopography and intracellular autophagy activation, which may provide a deeper insight into the signaling transition from mechanical to biological across the cell membrane.