Osteogenesis depending on geometry of porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds

The effect of the configuration of porous cylindrical hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold and laminin preparation of the scaffold on bone formation was estimated. HA scaffolds with a hollow center of 2 or 4 mm in diameter and those without a hollow center were used. The scaffolds were immersed in laminin solution or in culture medium. Bone marrow cells were obtained from the femora of male Fischer 344 rats. Cell suspension was prepared at 1 x 10(6) cells/mL density. The cells were seeded into HA scaffolds. Each scaffold was implanted in the dorsal subcutis of rats for 4 weeks. Bone formation in scaffolds was observed histologically. The quantity of osteocalcin was measured immunochemically. Many pores containing bone were identified in the laminin-immersed HA scaffold with a hollow center measuring 4 mm in diameter than those without and those with a hollow center measuring 2 mm in diameter. A greater quantity of osteocalcin was detected in the HA scaffold with immersion in laminin than in that without immersion in laminin. However, the results of the immunochemical assay for osteocalcin showed that a hollow center in the scaffold did not contribute to bone formation compared to scaffolds without a hollow center. It is considered that laminin may act as an adhesive for effective cell attachment to the walls of the pores in an HA scaffold.