Osteoinductive Agents-Incorporated Three-Dimensional Biphasic Polymer Scaffold for Synergistic Bone Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Large-scale bone defects pose significant clinical challenges, often requiring bone grafting.
• Current bone tissue engineering scaffolds face limitations due to low bioactivity and growth factor side effects.
• Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds require modification to improve their efficacy in bone regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the properties of PLGA scaffolds for improved bone regeneration.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of alendronate and naringin on bone defect repair.
• To evaluate a novel biphasic scaffold for clinical applications in bone tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds were coated with gelatin and incorporated with alendronate (ALD) and naringin (NG).
• The modified scaffolds (PLGA+Gelatin/ALD/NG) were tested for their efficacy in repairing rat calvarial defects.
• Histopathological staining and microcomputed tomography were used to assess bone regeneration and scaffold integration.

Main Results:

• The PLGA+Gelatin/ALD/NG scaffold exhibited improved hydrophilicity and mechanical strength.
• Alendronate inhibited osteoclast activity, while naringin promoted osteogenic effects on mesenchymal stem cells, showing a synergistic repair effect.
• Complete repair of rat calvarial defects with physiological integrity was observed at 16 weeks post-implantation.

Conclusions:

• The developed biphasic scaffold demonstrates significant potential for regenerating large-scale bone defects.
• The combination of gelatin, alendronate, and naringin offers a synergistic approach to enhance bone repair.
• This enhanced scaffold represents a promising alternative to conventional methods for clinical bone regeneration applications.