Synergistic effect of Si-hydroxyapatite coating and VEGF adsorption on Ti6Al4V-ELI scaffolds for bone regeneration in an osteoporotic bone environment

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that coating Ti6Al4V-ELI scaffolds with Si-hydroxyapatite and adsorbing VEGF synergistically enhances bone regeneration in osteoporotic conditions through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a combined SiHA coating and VEGF adsorption approach to improve osteoporotic bone regeneration on titanium scaffolds.

Findings

SiHA stimulates pre-osteoblastic cell proliferation

VEGF adsorption promotes endothelial cell growth

Combined treatment significantly increases new tissue formation in osteoporotic bone

Abstract

The osteogenic and angiogenic responses to metal macroporous scaffolds coated with silicon substituted hydroxyapatite (SiHA) and decorated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Ti6Al4V-ELI scaffolds were prepared by electron beam melting and subsequently coated with Ca10(PO4)5.6(SiO4)0.4(OH)1.6 following a dip coating method. In vitro studies demonstrated that SiHA stimulates the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cells, whereas the adsorption of VEGF stimulates the proliferation of EC2 mature endothelial cells. In vivo studies were carried out in an osteoporotic sheep model, evidencing that only the simultaneous presence of both components led to a significant increase of new tissue formation in osteoporotic bone.