The combination of three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffold materials and various cytokines can achieve the purpose of tissue reconstruction more efficiently. In this study, we prepared platelet-rich plasma (PRP)/gelatin microspheres combined with 3D printed polycaprolactone/β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds to solve the key problem that PRP cannot be released under control and the release time is too short, and thus better promote bone repair. Consequently, the composite scaffold displayed a good mechanical property and sustained cytokine release for ∼3 weeks. Increased survival, proliferation, migration, and osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were observed compared with the control groups. The in vivo study demonstrated that the composite scaffold with PRP/gelatin microspheres led to greater positive effects in promoting large bone defect repair. In conclusion, in this study, a new type of PRP long-term sustained-release composite scaffold material was constructed that effectively improved the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of cells in the transplanted area, thereby better promoting the repair of large bone defects. Impact statement Reconstruction of bone tissue and blood vessels at bone defects takes time. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been widely used in bone defect repair because it contains a variety of cytokine that can promote local osteogenesis and angiogenesis. In this study, we constructed a new type of polycaprolactone/β-tricalcium phosphate/PRP/gelatin scaffold to solve the predicament of short cytokine release time in PRP-related materials. We proved that this scaffold can not only achieve long-term PRP-related cytokine release (more than 3 weeks) but also promote osteogenesis and bone defect repair. We believe that this is a novel concept of developing the sustained PRP-related cytokine releasing bioscaffold for treating large bone defect.
Keywords: 3D print; bone defect repair; platelet-rich plasma; sustained release.