CaP Scaffold Loaded with Multi-Functional Gel for Bone Repair after Resection of Osteosarcoma

Abstract

Introduction: Osteosarcoma resection in clinical settings often causes largeosteopenia, and the cancer cells at the site of the lesion easily lead to the recurrence of osteosarcoma. Therefore, the treatment of osteosarcoma should not only induce bone regeneration, and remove tumor cells from the lesion site, but also avoid bacterial infection. Objective: This study is to develop a multifunctional scaffold that combines chitosan, black phosphorus nanoparticles, and copper ions in a biphasic calcium phosphate matrix to enhance bone regeneration, reduce tumor recurrence, and prevent infections following osteosarcoma surgery. Methods: Herein, a Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) porous scaffold was prepared by the pore-forming agent method, and the mixed gel of chitosan (CS), Black Phosphorus nanoparticles (BP), and Copper ion (Cu2+) was filled into the porous scaffold to form a composite scaffold (CS/BP/Cu-BCPs). CS/BP/Cu-BCPs were used to treat large bone defects caused by osteosarcoma. The composite scaffolds contain anticancer, bone promoting and bacteriostatic properties, which are mainly put down to the anticancer properties of BCP and BP, the osteoinductivity of BCP and Cu2+, and the antimicrobial effects of CS and Cu2+.Cell and antimicrobial tests demonstrated that the extract of CS/BP/Cu-BCPs displayed good biocompatibility, induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and inhibited the growth of bacteria. Results: In vivo, experiments showed CS/BP/Cu-BCPs had obvious anti-tumor and osteogenic effects. Taken together, the CS/BP/Cu-BCPs prepared in this study possessed good functions such as oncotherapy, bone regeneration, and postoperative anti-infection, and were expected to become a simple therapeutic material for osteosarcoma resection. We investigated the in vitro antibacterial, in vivo osteogenic, and antitumor capabilities of CaP scaffolds loaded with multi-functional gels. Compared with the control group, CaP scaffolds loaded with multi-functional gel showed significant antibacterial, bone-promoting, and anti-tumor effects. Conclusion: The contribution of this study was to confirm that CaP scaffolds loaded with multi-functional gels could eliminate osteosarcoma while repairing critical bone defects and have good antibacterial potential. These results suggested that CaP scaffolds loaded with multifunctional gels may be a potential candidate for repairing bone defects caused by osteosarcoma resection.