Authors: Bou-Akl Therese, Wu Bin, Daly-Seiler Conor, Dietz Paula, Ren Weiping and Markel David
The limitations of commonly used bone graft materials have encouraged testing of tissue engineered graft materials.We evaluated electrospun collagen nanofibers (CNFs) alone and in combination with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) as new bone graft biomaterials using a rat calvarial critical defect model, empty defects were used as control. Our hypotheses were: 1) CNFs will isolate the defect from the surrounding tissue and prevent its filling with fibrotic tissue 2) CNFs and BMSCs will further promote osteogenesis and lead to more organized bone repair. Healing was evaluated by microcomputed tomography (MicroCT) at 0, 6, 12 and 16 weeks. Bone volume fraction (BVF) analyzed. Renderings of defects used to grade bony bridging. At 16 weeks, animals sacrificed and the defects with surrounding bone removed, fixed, decalcified and processed for histology. Stained sections assessed for type and maturity of new bone. Increased bone filling was observed in the two experimental groups. Histology showed that CNFs alone and CNFs + BMSCs minimized fibrotic tissue invasion and promoted bone regeneration. Significant difference was found in BVF and bony bridging only between control and the CNF. Our results indicate CNFs with and without BMSCs can provide favorable stimulus for bone regeneration.
View/Download pdf