In this study, we investigated cellular biocompatibility in vitro and segmental bone defect repairing efficacy in vivo of a previously reported fibre-reinforced scaffold, nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen/poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/chitin fibres (nHACP/CF). First, attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of the goat bone mesenchymal stem cells (GBMSCs) cultured on the nHACP/CF scaffolds were evaluated in vitro. The results showed that cells attached to the scaffolds well, and there was no significant difference in cell proliferation between cells on the scaffolds and cells on the polystyrene culture plates that were used as a control. The results also showed that alkaline phosphatase (ALP)/DNA of the cells cultured on the scaffolds was significantly higher than that on the control. The in vivo study compared the bone defect repairing efficacy of nHACP/CF scaffolds with that of autograft bone. Thirty-two adult male goats with 25-mm defects in their tibias at the same anatomic site were divided into four groups. The first group was implanted with the nHACP/CF with GBMSCs. The second group was implanted with autograft bone. The third group was implanted with the nHACP/CF. Nothing was implanted in the fourth group. Bone growth was evaluated by radiography, histology, and biomechanics. The results showed that although the nHACP/CF had new bone formation, it could not repair the defect fully while nHACP/CF with GBMSCs cultured and autograft bone could repair the segmental bone defect by 8 weeks after surgery, suggesting that nHACP/CF is an appropriate scaffold for bone tissue engineering.
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