Capturing cerium ions via hydrogel microspheres promotes vascularization for bone regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Developing multifunctional biomaterials with hierarchical porous structures is crucial for bone tissue engineering (BTE).
• Incorporating trace elements like cerium ions (Ce3+) into bone repair materials can promote angiogenesis and osteoblast activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a living, phosphorylated, injectable porous hydrogel microsphere loaded with cerium ions and bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs).
• To evaluate the efficacy of this novel biomaterial in promoting bone regeneration and angiogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized microfluidic technology and coordination reactions to create P-GelMA-Ce@BMSCs hydrogel microspheres.
• Loaded exogenous BMSCs into the hydrogel microspheres to facilitate cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions.
• Investigated the effects of Ce3+ on BMSC proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and endotheliocyte angiogenesis.

Main Results:

• The P-GelMA-Ce@BMSCs hydrogel microspheres supported BMSC adhesion and proliferation.
• Ce3+ significantly promoted BMSC osteogenic differentiation and endotheliocyte angiogenesis by enhancing mineral deposition, osteogenic gene expression, and VEGF secretion.
• The observed enhancements in osteogenesis and angiogenesis were linked to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Conclusions:

• The developed P-GelMA-Ce@BMSCs hydrogel microspheres show significant potential for bone tissue engineering applications.
• This study provides valuable insights into using metal ion-based biofunctional materials for treating bone defects.
• The findings highlight the synergistic effects of cerium ions and stem cells in promoting bone regeneration.