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Updated: Jun 30, 2025
Distinctive Capillary Action by Micro-channels in Bone-like Templates can Enhance Recruitment of Cells for Restoration of Large Bony Defect
Published on: September 11, 2015
An anti-infection and biodegradable TFRD-loaded porous scaffold promotes bone regeneration in segmental bone defects:
Haixiong Lin1,2,3, Zige Li4, Zhenze Xie5
1Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine, Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Background:
Addressing segmental bone defects remains a complex task in orthopedics, and recent advancements have led to the development of novel drugs to enhance the bone regeneration. However, long-term oral administration can lead to malnutrition and poor patient compliance. Scaffolds loaded with medication are extensively employed to facilitate the restoration of bone defects.
Methods:
Inspired by the local application of total flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae (TFRD) in the treatment of fracture, a novel 3D-printed HA/CMCS/PDA/TFRD scaffold with anti-infection, biodegradable and induced angiogenesis was designed, and to explore its preclinical value in segmental bone defect of tibia.
Results:
The scaffold exhibited good degradation and drug release performance. In vitro, the scaffold extract promoted osteogenesis by enhancing bone-related gene/protein expression and mineral deposition in BMSCs. It also stimulated endothelial cell migration and promoted angiogenesis through the upregulation of specific genes and proteins associated with cell migration and tube formation. This may be attributed to the activation of the PI3k/AKT/HIF-1α pathway, facilitating the processes of osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Furthermore, the HA/CMCS/PDA/TFRD scaffold was demonstrated to alleviate infection, enhance angiogenesis, promote bone regeneration, and increase the maximum failure force of new formed bone in a rat model of segmental bone defects.
Conclusion:
Porous scaffolds loaded with TFRD can reduce infection, be biodegradable, and induce angiogenesis, presenting a novel approach for addressing tibial segmental bone defects.
