Biomimetic Methacrylated Gelatin Hydrogel Loaded With Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Jun Li; Wenzhao Wang; Mingxin Li; Ping Song; Haoyuan Lei; Xingyu Gui; Changchun Zhou; Lei Liu

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2021.770049

Biomimetic Methacrylated Gelatin Hydrogel Loaded With Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2021 Dec 2:9:770049. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.770049. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Jun Li¹, Wenzhao Wang¹, Mingxin Li¹, Ping Song^{2

3}, Haoyuan Lei^{2

3}, Xingyu Gui^{2

3}, Changchun Zhou^{2

3}, Lei Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Research Institute, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
³ College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

Large-segment bone defect caused by trauma or tumor is one of the most challenging problems in orthopedic clinics. Biomimetic materials for bone tissue engineering have developed dramatically in the past few decades. The organic combination of biomimetic materials and stem cells offers new strategies for tissue repair, and the fate of stem cells is closely related to their extracellular matrix (ECM) properties. In this study, a photocrosslinked biomimetic methacrylated gelatin (Bio-GelMA) hydrogel scaffold was prepared to simulate the physical structure and chemical composition of the natural bone extracellular matrix, providing a three-dimensional (3D) template and extracellular matrix microenvironment. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCS) were encapsulated in Bio-GelMA scaffolds to examine the therapeutic effects of ECM-loaded cells in a 3D environment simulated for segmental bone defects. In vitro results showed that Bio-GelMA had good biocompatibility and sufficient mechanical properties (14.22kPa). A rat segmental bone defect model was constructed in vivo. The GelMA-BMSC suspension was added into the PDMS mold with the size of the bone defect and photocured as a scaffold. BMSC-loaded Bio-GelMA resulted in maximum and robust new bone formation compared with hydrogels alone and stem cell group. In conclusion, the bio-GelMA scaffold can be used as a cell carrier of BMSC to promote the repair of segmental bone defects and has great potential in future clinical applications.

Keywords: BMSCs; ECM; GelMA; hydrogel; large segment bone defect.