The pro-angiogenic properties of multi-functional bioactive glass composite scaffolds

• Published in: Biomaterials Vol. 32; no. 17; pp. 4096 - 4108
• Main Authors: Gerhardt, Lutz-Christian, Widdows, Kate L, Erol, Melek M, Burch, Charles W, Sanz-Herrera, José A, Ochoa, Ignacio, Stämpfli, Rolf, Roqan, Iman S, Gabe, Simon, Ansari, Tahera, Boccaccini, Aldo R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2011
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Angiogenesis; Angiogenesis Inducing Agents - chemistry; Animals; Bioactive glass; Bone; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone and Bones - pathology; Bone Regeneration; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Ceramics; Composite scaffold; Compressive Strength; Dentistry; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Glass - chemistry; Humans; Implants, Experimental; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Polyesters - chemistry; Porosity; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tissue Scaffolds; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Vascularisation; Angiogenesis; Bioactive glass; Composite scaffold; Bone; Vascularisation; Vascular endothelial growth factor
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.02.032

Abstract The angiogenic properties of micron-sized (m-BG) and nano-sized (n-BG) bioactive glass (BG) filled poly(D,L lactide) (PDLLA) composites were investigated. On the basis of cell culture work investigating the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by human fibroblasts in contact with composite films (0, 5, 10, 20 wt %), porous 3D composite scaffolds, optimised with respect to the BG filler content capable of inducing angiogenic response, were produced. The in vivo vascularisation of the scaffolds was studied in a rat animal model and quantified using stereological analyses. The prepared scaffolds had high porosities (81–93%), permeability ( k  = 5.4–8.6 × 10−9  m2 ) and compressive strength values (0.4–1.6 MPa) all in the range of trabecular bone. On composite films containing 20 wt % m-BG or n-BG, human fibroblasts produced 5 times higher VEGF than on pure PDLLA films. After 8 weeks of implantation, m-BG and n-BG containing scaffolds were well-infiltrated with newly formed tissue and demonstrated higher vascularisation and percentage blood vessel to tissue (11.6–15.1%) than PDLLA scaffolds (8.5%). This work thus shows potential for the regeneration of hard-soft tissue defects and increased bone formation arising from enhanced vascularisation of the construct.