Objective Rapid and effective vascularization of scaffolds used for bone tissue engineering is critical to bony repair. To study the cooperative and promotion effects of enhanced bioactive glass/collagen composite scaffold on vascularization for searching for a kind of el igible vascularized scaffold to repair bone defect. Methods The human umbil ical vein endothel ial cells (HUVECs) were collected from human umbil ical core, and identified through von Willebrand
factor (vWF) and CD34 immunofluorescence. The 1st passage of HUVECs were suspensed and seeded into the scaffold. The attachment and prol iferation of HUVECs on the scaffold were observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM). HUVECs were seeded on the scaffold as the experimental group, and on 96-well plate as the control group. The growth rate of HUVECs was detected through alarmarBlue at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 days. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of VEGF, fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (Flt-1), and kinase insert domain receptor (Kdr) were detected through real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Twelve scaffolds were embedded subcutaneouly into 6 Sprague-Dawley rats. The enhanced scaffolds were used and the arteria and vein saphena bundle were embedded straightly through the central slot of scaffold in experimental group, and the common scaffolds were used in control group. Frozen section and HE staining of scaffolds were performed at 5 days and 10 days to observe the vascularization of embedded scaffold. Results HUVECs were identified through morphology, vWF and CD34 immunofluorescence. SEM results showed HUVECs could attach to the scaffold tightly and viably. HUVECs prol iferated actively on the scaffold in experimental group; the growth rate in experimental group was higher than that in control group at 3-11 days, showing significant differences within 5-11 days (P lt; 0.05). The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results showed that
the mRNA expression levels of VEGF, Flt-1, and Kdr in experimental group were higher than those in control group at 3 days, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05). Frozen section and HE staining of the scaffolds in experimental group showed that the embedded vessel bundle were still patency at 5 days and 10 days, that many new vessels were observed around the embedded vessel bundle and increased with time, host vessels infiltrated in the surrounding area of scaffold and fewer neo-vessels at the distant area. But there was only some fibrous tissue appeared in control group, and at 10 days, the common scaffold degradated, so few normal tissue appeared at the embedded area. Conclusion Enhanced bioactive glass/collagen composite scaffold can promote vascularization in vitro and in vivo, and may be used in bone tissue engineering.
Citation： ZHANG Xinxin,JIANG Xiaorui,MENG Yongchun,LI Fangguo,JIANG Shan,JIN Dan,CHEN Xiaofeng,PEI Guoxian. PROMOTED VASCULARIZATION OF ENHANCED BIOACTIVE GLASS/COLLAGEN COMPOSITE SCAFFOLD. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2011, 25(4): 476-481. doi: Copy