Objective: To study the osteogenic effects of a new type of peptides anchored aminated-poly-D, L-lactide acid (PA/PDLLA) scaffold in repairing femoral defect in rats.
Methods: The PDLLA scaffolds were treated by ammonia plasma and subsequent anchor of Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) peptides via amide linkage formation. Thus PA/PDLLA scaffolds were prepared. The bone marrow was harvested from the femur and tibia of 4 4-week-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated and cultured by whole bone marrow adherence method. BMSCs-scaffold composites were prepared by seeding osteogenic-induced BMSCs at passages 3-6 on the PA/PDLLA and PDLLA scaffolds. The right femoral defects of 8 mm in length were prepared in 45 adult male SD rats (weighing, 350-500 g) and the rats were divided into 3 groups (n=15) randomly. BMSCs-PA/PDLLA (PA/PDLLA group) or BMSCs-PDLLA (PDLLA group) composites were used to repair defects respectively, while defects were not treated as blank control (blank control group). General state of the rats after operation was observed. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, general, radiological, histological, micro-CT observations and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were performed.
Results: Two rats died after operation, which was added; the other rats survived to the end of the experiment. At each time point after operation, general and radiological observations showed more quick and obvious restoration in PA/PDLLA group than in PDLLA group; no bone repair was observed in blank control group. The X-ray scores were the highest in PA/PDLLA group, higher in PDLLA group, and the lowest in blank control group; showing significant difference in multiple comparison at the other time (P < 0.05) except between blank control group and PDLLA group at 4 weeks (P > 0.05). The X-ray scores showed an increasing trend in PDLLA group and PA/PDLLA group with time (P < 0.05). Histological and micro-CT observations showed the best osteogenesis in PA/PDLLA group, better in PDLLA group, and worst in blank control group. Comparison between groups had significant differences (P < 0.05) in bone mineral density, bone volume/total volume of range of interest, trabecular number, and structure model index. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in the expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes, such as osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I, bone morphogenetic protein 2, and osteopontin when compared PA/PDLLA group with the other groups by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR analysis.
Conclusion: The PA/PDLLA scaffolds can accelerate the repair of femoral defects in rats.