Nanoscale β-TCP-Laden GelMA/PCL Composite Membrane for Guided Bone Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Periodontal Regeneration

Background:

• Biodegradable membranes are crucial for guided bone regeneration (GBR).
• Developing membranes with tunable properties is key for effective GBR.
• Current limitations necessitate innovative biomaterial solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer novel beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)-laden GelMA/PCL composite fibrous membranes.
• To evaluate the in vitro osteogenic potential of the composite membranes.
• To assess the in vivo bone regeneration capacity of the membranes in critical-size defects.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of GelMA/PCL-TCP composite membranes using electrospinning.
• Characterization of membrane chemo-morphology and β-TCP integration.
• In vitro assessment of cell attachment, proliferation, mineralization, and osteogenic gene expression using alveolar bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (aBMSCs).
• In vivo evaluation of bone regeneration in rat calvarial critical-size defects.

Main Results:

• Uniform porous network and successful β-TCP integration within GelMA/PCL-TCP composite microfibers.
• Enhanced cell attachment, proliferation, mineralization, and osteogenic gene expression in aBMSCs cultured on GelMA/PCL-TCP membranes compared to controls.
• Significant promotion of robust bone regeneration and osteogenesis in vivo rat calvarial defects using GelMA/PCL-TCP membranes.

Conclusions:

• The engineered GelMA/PCL-TCP composite fibrous membrane effectively promotes osteogenic differentiation of aBMSCs in vitro.
• The composite membrane demonstrates pronounced bone formation in vivo, highlighting its potential for guided bone regeneration.
• This β-TCP-laden electrospun composite shows strong promise as a biomaterial for periodontal tissue engineering and GBR.