Transforming Growth Factor-β3/Recombinant Human-like Collagen/Chitosan Freeze-Dried Sponge Primed With Human...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Craniofacial Surgery

Background:

• Skull defects pose risks of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and meningitis.
• Stem cell therapy offers promise for repairing large cranial defects.
• Transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3) promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a hybrid scaffold (TRFS) loaded with hPDLSCs (TRFS-h) for repairing rat skull defects.
• To investigate the effect of TGF-β3 on hPDLSCs within the scaffold.
• To assess the osteogenic potential and bone healing capacity of the TRFS-h construct.

Main Methods:

• Developed a TGF-β3/collagen/chitosan (CS) freeze-dried sponge (TRFS) scaffold.
• Loaded TRFS with hPDLSCs to create TRFS-h constructs.
• Evaluated scaffold properties (swelling, absorption, degradation, biocompatibility).
• Assessed bone repair in rat skull defect models using micro-CT and immunohistochemistry.

Main Results:

• TRFS exhibited a porous 3D structure, good biocompatibility, and complete degradation within 90 days.
• TRFS-h significantly increased bone volume and bone volume fraction compared to controls (p < 0.01).
• TRFS-h enhanced the expression of osteogenic markers (Runx2, BMP-2, COL I) around defect sites (p < 0.01).
• hPDLSCs proliferated and differentiated osteogenically within TRFS (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• TRFS-h effectively promotes bone repair in calvarial defects in rats.
• hPDLSCs are suitable seeded cells for skull injury repair.
• TGF-β3 accelerates the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs, offering a therapeutic strategy for skull defects.