Development of cell-hybrid artificial bone: effect of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal stem cells on bone formation with newly developed interconnected porous calcium hydroxyapatite.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs) on bone formation in a novel interconnected porous calcium hydroxyapatite (IP-CHA). BMSCs/IP-CHA composites, as a cell-hybrid artificial bone, were made by injecting BMSCs solution into IP-CHA scaffolds. To induce osteogenic differentiation, BMSCs/IP-CHA composites were subcultured for three, seven, 10, and 14 days. At the end of each subculture period, BMSCs/IP-CHA composites were examined by SEM and ALP staining. BMSCs/IP-CHA composites of different osteogenic groups of subculture were also placed into bone sockets in the right femur of beagle dogs. After four weeks, same placement procedure was done in the left femur. BMSCs/IP-CHA subcultured for 10 and 14 days were ALP-positive as opposed to those of three and seven days. At four weeks after placement, bone formation was superior at the 10- and 14-day subculture groups. Based on the results obtained, it was suggested that osteogenic differentiation periods with 10 and 14 days of subculture for BMSCs/IP-CHA as a cell-hybrid artificial bone were beneficial in promoting bone formation.