Cryogenic 3D Printing of ß-TCP/PLGA Composite Scaffolds Incorporated With BpV (Pic) for Treating Early Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head

Feng Li; Zhifu Cao; Kai Li; Ke Huang; Chengliang Yang; Ye Li; Chuanchuan Zheng; Yulu Ye; Tingjie Zhou; Haoqiang Peng; Jia Liu; Chong Wang; Kegong Xie; Yujin Tang; Liqiang Wang

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2021.748151

Cryogenic 3D Printing of ß-TCP/PLGA Composite Scaffolds Incorporated With BpV (Pic) for Treating Early Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022 Jan 18:9:748151. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.748151. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Feng Li^{1

2}, Zhifu Cao^{1

2}, Kai Li³, Ke Huang¹, Chengliang Yang¹, Ye Li^{1

2}, Chuanchuan Zheng^{1

2}, Yulu Ye², Tingjie Zhou², Haoqiang Peng², Jia Liu^{1

2

4

5}, Chong Wang⁶, Kegong Xie¹, Yujin Tang^{1

2

4

5}, Liqiang Wang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
² Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
³ The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
⁴ Guangxi Key Laboratory of basic and translational research of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Baise, China.
⁵ Guangxi Biomedical Materials Engineering Research Center for Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Baise, China.
⁶ School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, China.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Material Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH) is a disease that is characterized by structural changes and collapse of the femoral head. The exact causes of ANFH are not yet clear, but small advances in etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment are achieved. In this study, ß-tricalcium phosphate/poly lactic-co-glycolic acid composite scaffolds incorporated with bisperoxovanadium [bpV (pic)] (bPTCP) was fabricated through cryogenic 3D printing and were utilized to treat rat models with early ANFH, which were constructed by alcohol gavage for 6 months. The physical properties of bPTCP scaffolds and in vitro bpV (pic) release from the scaffolds were assessed. It was found that the sustained release of bpV (pic) promoted osteogenic differentiation and inhibited adipose differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Micro-computed tomography scanning and histological analysis confirmed that the progression of ANFH in rats was notably alleviated in bPTCP scaffolds. Moreover, it was noted that the bPTCP scaffolds inhibited phosphatase and tensin homolog and activated the mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling. The autophagy induced by bPTCP scaffolds could partially prevent apoptosis, promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis, and hence eventually prevent the progression of ANFH, suggesting that the bPTCP scaffold are promising candidate to treat ANFH.

Keywords: avascular necrosis of femoral head; bisperoxovanadium; phosphatase and tensin homolo; rats; ß-tricalcium phosphate.