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Tideglusib-Preactivated Osteoblasts Encapsulated in Ceramic Particle-Reinforced GelMA Hydrogel for Enhanced
Keqin Cao1, Hongxu Shang1, Yexin Li1
1College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
Drug Design, Development and Therapy
|August 2, 2026
Summary
This study developed a composite scaffold using biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel to enhance bone regeneration. Pretreated osteoblasts significantly accelerated critical-size bone defect repair in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Orthopedic Research
Background:
- Critical-size bone defects pose significant challenges in bone regeneration due to limited healing capacity.
- Developing effective bone graft substitutes is crucial for treating large bone defects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a composite scaffold comprising osteoinductive biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel.
- To investigate the bone regenerative efficacy of calvarial osteoblasts (OBs) pretreated with the GSK-3β inhibitor Tideglusib, seeded on BCP particles within the GelMA scaffold.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of BCP particles and GelMA hydrogel using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.
- In vitro assessment of Tideglusib-treated OBs for viability, proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation.
- In vivo evaluation of the composite scaffold's bone regeneration potential in rat femoral defects using micro-CT and histology.
Main Results:
- The BCP/GelMA composite scaffold exhibited enhanced mechanical properties.
- Tideglusib treatment optimally activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling, promoting OB osteogenic differentiation in vitro.
- In vivo studies demonstrated significantly enhanced bone regeneration, including higher bone volume and mature bone formation, in the composite scaffold group.
Conclusions:
- The composite scaffold, incorporating Tideglusib-pretreated OBs, provides mechanical support and sustained osteogenic stimulation.
- This ex vivo pharmacological priming strategy effectively accelerates critical-size bone defect regeneration, showing promise for clinical translation in bone tissue engineering.
