Synergistic Effects of Beta Tri-Calcium Phosphate and Porcine-Derived Decellularized Bone Extracellular Matrix in 3D-Printed Polycaprolactone Scaffold on Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Bone-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) is widely used in studies on bone regeneration because of its ability to provide a microenvironment of native bone tissue. However, a hydrogel, which is a main type of ECM application, is limited to use for bone graft substitutes due to relative lack of mechanical properties. The present study aims to fabricate a scaffold for guiding effective bone regeneration. A polycaprolactone (PCL)/beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/bone decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffold capable of providing physical and physiological environment are fabricated using 3D printing technology and decoration method. PCL/β-TCP/bone dECM scaffolds exhibit excellent cell seeding efficiency, proliferation, and early and late osteogenic differentiation capacity in vitro. In addition, outstanding results of bone regeneration are observed in PCL/β-TCP/bone dECM scaffold group in the rabbit calvarial defect model in vivo. These results indicate that PCL/β-TCP/bone dECM scaffolds have an outstanding potential as bone graft substitutes for effective bone regeneration.

Keywords: 3D printing; beta-tricalcium phosphate; bone regeneration; decellularized extracellular matrix; scaffold.