Effects of scaffold architecture on cranial bone healing

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 506 - 513
• Main Authors: Berner, A, Woodruff, M.A, Lam, C.X.F, Arafat, M.T, Saifzadeh, S, Steck, R, Ren, J, Nerlich, M, Ekaputra, A.K, Gibson, I, Hutmacher, D.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Bone Regeneration - drug effects; bone tissue engineering; Calcium Phosphates - pharmacology; Dentistry; Durapatite - pharmacology; Gels - pharmacology; Immunoenzyme Techniques; laydown pattern; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; polycaprolactone; Polyesters - pharmacology; rat skull defect; Rats, Inbred Lew; scaffolds; Skull - diagnostic imaging; Skull - surgery; Surface Properties; Surgery; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; Wound Healing - drug effects; X-Ray Microtomography; rat skull defect; scaffolds; bone tissue engineering; polycaprolactone; laydown pattern
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2013.05.008

Abstract In the present study, polycaprolactone–tricalcium phosphate (PCL/TCP) scaffolds with two different fibre laydown patterns, which were coated with hydroxyapatite and gelatine, were used as an approach for optimizing bone regeneration in a critical-sized calvarial defect. After 12 weeks, bone regeneration was quantified using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis, biomechanical testing, and histological evaluation. Notably, the experimental groups with coated scaffolds showed lower bone formation and lower biomechanical properties within the defect compared to the uncoated scaffolds. Surprisingly, the different laydown pattern of the fibres resulted in different bone formation and biomechanical properties: the 0°/60°/120° scaffolds revealed lower bone formation and biomechanical properties compared to the 0°/90° scaffolds in all the experimental groups. Therefore, future bone regeneration strategies utilizing scaffolds should consider scaffold architecture as an important factor during the scaffold optimization stages in order to move closer to a clinical application.