Aligned electrospun cellulose scaffolds coated with rhBMP-2 for both in vitro and in vivo bone tissue engineering

YesPhysical properties of scaffolds such as nanofibers and aligned structures have been reported to exert profound effects on the growth and differentiation of stem cells due to their homing-effect features and contact guidance. However, the biological function of aligned nanofiber utilized as bone-scaffold has not been rigorously characterized. In the present study, aligned electrospun cellulose/CNCs nanocomposite nanofibers (ECCNNs) loaded with bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) were used for the first time to investigate (1) in vitro osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and (2) in vivo collagen assembly direction and cortical bone regeneration. Aligned ECCNNs scaffolds loaded with BMP-2 possess good biological compatibility. The growth orientation of BMSCs followed the underlying aligned nanofibers morphology, accompanied with increased alizarin red stain, ALP activity and calcium content in vitro while, a rabbit calvaria bone defect model was used in an in vivo study.This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) grants (31500789, 51433006, 51473100, 81870758 and 31871464), Chongqing Yuzhong District science and technology plan project grants (20170124), Chongqing Research Program of Basic Research and Frontier Technology (cstc2018jcyjAX0807, cstc2017jcyjBX0019 and cstc2017jcyjAX0020), Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry research start-up funds, the RCUK China-UK Science Bridges Program through the Medical Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Program for Innovation Team 1015 Building at Institutions of Higher Education (No. 1016 CXTDG201602006) funded by the Chongqing Municipal 1017 Education Commission of China in 201