In Vivo Evaluation of the Regenerative Capacity of a Nanofibrous, Prevascularized, Load-Bearing Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering

PurposeDue to the increasing number of orthopedic injuries occurring each year, there is a critical need for better treatment of improperly healed fractures. To combat this, we have developed a prevascularized, mineralized tissue engineered nanofibrous scaffold for bone regeneration.MethodsTwo stereoisomers of polylactic acid were combined with hydroxyapatite and decellularized vascular tissue to simultaneously entice osteogenic and vascular differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. These scaffolds were implanted into a rabbit radial defect model for 8 weeks.ResultsThe scaffolds were stable throughout the study and micro-CT images taken at 4 and 8 weeks showed considerable remodeling and a large amount of new bone growth in and around the scaffold along with vascular ingrowth, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Bone development in the tissue-engineered scaffold was comparable to an allograft, one of today's gold standardsConclusionThis scaffold shows potential to be a clinically useful alternative for treating bone fracturesLay SummaryWhile bone fractures involving multiple fracture sites are predominantly caused by severe trauma, they can also be a result of minor accidents such as falls especially within the aging population. We developed a tissue engineered nanofibrous scaffold as an alternative to current treatment of such fractures. Incorporated into our scaffold are cues to promote both bone tissue regeneration as well as the regeneration of vascular tissue which were observed when the scaffolds were implanted in rabbits. These scaffolds show great promise for treatment of bone fractures.