ECM Inspired Coating of Embroidered 3D Scaffolds Enhances Calvaria Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Resorbable polymeric implants and surface coatings are an emerging technology to treat bone defects and increase bone formation. This approach is of special interest in anatomical regions like the calvaria since adults lose the capacity to heal large calvarial defects. The present study assesses the potential of extracellular matrix inspired, embroidered polycaprolactone-co-lactide (PCL) scaffolds for the treatment of 13 mm full thickness calvarial bone defects in rabbits. Moreover the influence of a collagen/chondroitin sulfate (coll I/cs) coating of PCL scaffolds was evaluated. Defect areas filled with autologous bone and empty defects served as reference. The healing process was monitored over 6 months by combining a novel ultrasonographic method, radiographic imaging, biomechanical testing, and histology. The PCL coll I/cs treated group reached 68% new bone volume compared to the autologous group (100%) and the biomechanical stability of the defect area was similar to that of the gold standard. Histological investigations revealed a significantly more homogenous bone distribution over the whole defect area in the PCL coll I/cs group compared to the noncoated group. The bioactive, coll I/cs coated, highly porous, 3-dimensional PCL scaffold acted as a guide rail for new skull bone formation along and into the implant.

A computer-designed scaffold for bone regeneration within cranial defect using human dental pulp stem cells

“…Neo-bone formation of PLGC scaffold with hDPSCs/OF occurred mostly at the lamina interna in the bottom of the implanted scaffold and upper side of the dura mater, as observed by others 48 49 50 . This was probably attributed to the better nutrition and blood supply from the dura mater side compared to the scalp side.…”

Nanoparticulate mineralized collagen scaffolds induce in vivo bone regeneration independent of progenitor cell loading or exogenous growth factor stimulation

“…Given that MC-GAG has the ability to demonstrate bone healing in the absence of ex vivo cultures with BMSCs, it is likely that qualities of the scaffold recruit osteoprogenitors and stimulate differentiation to bone. Other investigators have reported using cell-free scaffold implantation for regeneration, however the quantity of bone formed is less than our current report and the mechanism responsible for regeneration was not elucidated [40]. The next question is, thus, what is the source of such progenitor cells?…”

Evaluation of 3D-Printed Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Coated with Freeze-Dried Platelet-Rich Plasma for Bone Regeneration

“…The PCL scaffolds were printed with a 5.0 mm diameter and were 1.0 mm in height. All scaffolds were sterilized with ethylene oxide before use [ 40 ]. Before coating with PRP, the scaffolds were first treated with ethanolic sodium hydroxide and 30% 0.25 M NaOH:70% absolute ethanol for 2 min to improve surface wettability [ 41 ].…”