[Construct tissue-engineered bone by co-seeding marrow stromal cells and endothelial cells].

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Engineering

Background:

• Tissue-engineered bone constructs aim to restore bone defects.
• Optimizing osteogenesis and angiogenesis is crucial for successful bone regeneration.
• Biocomposite scaffolds offer a promising platform for bone tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role of co-seeding marrow stromal cells (MSCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) on a poly (L-lactic acid)/beta-tricalcium phosphate (PLLA/beta-TCP) scaffold.
• To investigate the impact of co-seeding on osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and scaffold degradation in vivo.
• To compare the efficacy of co-seeded MSCs and ECs versus MSCs alone in bone tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Rat MSCs (rMSCs) and human umbilical vein ECs (hUVECs) were co-seeded onto PLLA/beta-TCP scaffolds (test group).
• rMSCs alone were seeded onto PLLA/beta-TCP scaffolds (control group).
• Biocomposites were implanted intramuscularly into nude mice, followed by histomorphometric analysis at various time points (1-16 weeks).

Main Results:

• The co-seeded group (test) showed a faster increase in new bone area compared to the control group.
• Scaffold material degradation was more rapid in the test group than in the control group.
• A significantly better capillary network growth was observed in the test group, indicating enhanced angiogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Co-seeding MSCs and ECs onto biocomposite scaffolds is beneficial for promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis in tissue-engineered bone.
• This strategy also accelerates scaffold degradation, facilitating tissue integration.
• The findings highlight the significance of combined cell seeding for advancing bone tissue engineering research.