Efficacy of Bone Regeneration with Poly(Pro-Hyp-Gly) Synthetic Polypeptide Sponge as Scaffold Using Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract

Tissue engineering involves the morphogenesis of new tissues formed from biocompatible polymers and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We evaluated bone production after combining MSCs derived from mini-pig posterior iliac crest and polypeptides consisting of a Pro-Hyp-Gly sequence [poly(PHG)] sponge. A cell group using poly(PHG) sponge as a scaffold, a poly(PHG) sponge only group, and a bone defect only (control) group were created for transplantation experiments using a mini-pig calvarial defect model. The percentage of new bone in the cell group was significantly greater than that in the control group at weeks 12 and 18, as determined using microradiography. At week 18, the poly(PHG) scaffolds were almost fully degraded, and remodeling of mature compact bone was observed in the cell group. Bone formation materials that combine poly(PHG) sponge as a scaffold with MSCs have good osteogenic ability, and should be studied for clinical application.