Hydroxyapatite-doped alginate beads as scaffolds for the osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

This work investigates the role of an osteoblastic matrix component, hydroxyapatite (HA), in modular alginate scaffolds to support osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells for the purpose of tissue engineered bone constructs. This system is first evaluated in a tubular perfusion bioreactor, which has been shown to improve osteoblastic differentiation over static culture conditions. HMSCs in alginate scaffolds that contain HA show increased osteoblastic gene expression compared to cells in pure alginate scaffolds, as well as significantly more matrix production and mineralization. The differentiated hMSCs and cell-laid matrix are ultimately evaluated in an in vivo site specific model. Implantation of these scaffolds with preformed matrix into the rat femoral condyle defects results in abundant bone growth and significant incorporation of the scaffold into the surrounding tissue. The developed mineralized matrix, induced in part by the HA component in the scaffold, could lead to increased tissue development in critically sized defects, and should be included in future implant strategies.