Strontium ion reinforced bioceramic scaffold for load bearing bone regeneration

Bone defects in load bearing areas require bone reconstruction with strong biomaterial having mechanical characteristics like cortical bone. Bioceramics are biomaterials that support bone formation as well as provide adequate mechanical properties. A strontium substitution of the bioceramic is expected to further increase its bioactivity by enhancing osteogenesis and protect the bone from osteoclastic resorption. The study involves development, characterization and in vivo testing of a newly developed strontium substituted hydroxyapatite based bioceramic scaffold (SrHAB) with sufficient biomechanical properties. Optimal concentration of strontium ion required for enhanced osteogenic differentiation was identified by comparing three compositions of SrHAB scaffold; namely Sr10HAB, Sr30HAB and Sr50 HAB for their Alkaline phosphatase activity in vitro. The selected Sr10HAB scaffold demonstrated in vivo bone formation with osteogenic differentiation of stromal derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from human and ovine sources in ectopic and ovine models. Thus, Sr10HAB scaffold has a potential for application in load bearing bone requirements of orthopaedics and dentistry.