Electrical Stimulation Combined With Hydroxyapatite Hydrogel for Bone Regeneration.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Research

Background:

• Bone tissue possesses bioelectrical properties crucial for healing.
• Electrical stimulation (ES) is a known accelerator of bone repair.
• Biocomposite materials synergizing with ES for bone defect repair require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and evaluate a strontium-doped hydroxyapatite and chitosan (Sr-HA@CS) composite for bone regeneration.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of the Sr-HA@CS composite with electrical stimulation (ES).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of strontium-doped hydroxyapatite and chitosan (Sr-HA@CS) composite.
• Evaluation of composite properties including injectability, biocompatibility, and osteoinductivity.
• RNA sequencing analysis to assess osteogenesis-related gene expression.
• In vivo assessment of bone regeneration.

Main Results:

• The Sr-HA@CS composite demonstrated excellent injectability, biocompatibility, and osteoinductivity.
• Combined ES and Sr-HA@CS significantly upregulated osteogenesis-related genes.
• Synergistic treatment accelerated the osteogenic process, promoted intracellular calcium enrichment, and enhanced bone regeneration in vivo.

Conclusions:

• The Sr-HA@CS composite shows significant potential for promoting bone regeneration.
• The combination of Sr-HA@CS and ES therapy offers a promising approach for accelerating bone repair.
• This synergistic strategy represents a key area for future research in bone defect treatment.