Abstract
The bone-formation and scaffold-biodegradation processes have not been fully characterized. This study aimed to determine the osteogenic ability of nHA-CS osteo-induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) composites and to explore the relationship between bone formation and scaffold biodegradation. The nHA-CS osteo-induced BMSC composites (nHA-CS+cells group) and the nHA-CS scaffolds (nHA-CS group) were implanted into the femoral spatium intermusculare of SD rats. At 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks post-implantation, the rat femurs were scanned using computerized tomography (CT), and the CT values of the implants were measured and comparatively analyzed. The implants were then harvested and subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome staining, and the percentages of bone area, scaffold area and collagen area were compared between the two groups. The CT values of the implants were higher in the nHA-CS+cells group than the nHA-CS group at the same time points (P < 0.05). Histological analysis revealed that de novo bone and collagen formation in the pores of the scaffolds gradually increased from 2 weeks post-implantation in both groups and that the scaffold gradually degraded as bone formation proceeded. However, more de novo bone and collagen formation and scaffold degradation occurred in the nHA-CS+cells group than in the nHA-CS group at the same time points (P < 0.05). In conclusion, nHA-CS osteo-induced BMSC composites are promising bone tissue engineering substitutes, and osteo-induced BMSCs can significantly enhance the osteogenic ability and play an active role in the degradation of nHA-CS scaffolds on par with bone formation.
Highlights
Bone tissue engineering provides a promising way for bone regeneration
Electron microscopy revealed that the nHA-CS scaffolds exhibited a three-dimensional porous structure, with nHA particles evenly distributed in the pore surface of the nHA-CS scaffolds (Fig 1)
After induction in osteogenic media for one week, the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) exhibited a morphological conversion to the cuboidal osteoblast-like shape, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression was detected by calcium-cobalt staining (Fig 2B)
Summary
Bone tissue engineering provides a promising way for bone regeneration. Numerous investigations have confirmed the feasibility of reconstructing bone tissue via tissue engineering[1, 2]. Tissue engineered scaffolds composed of calcium phosphates and natural biopolymers are widely used in bone defect repair. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0135366 August 10, 2015
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