The study of the feasibility of segmental bone defect repair with tissue- engineered bone membrane: a qualitative observation

The objective of the study was to investigate the feasibility of intramembranous osteogenesis from tissue-engineered bone membrane in vivo. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of rabbits were harvested, expanded and some of them were induced into osteoblasts. Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) was converted by a series of physical and chemical procedures into a scaffold. MSCs and induced osteoblasts were seeded separately onto the scaffold, thus fabricating two kinds of tissue-engineered bone membrane. A total of 12 New Zealand rabbits were subjected to a surgical operation; a 15 mm bone segment, including the periosteum, was resected from the radius on both sides of each rabbit to create critical bone defects. The two kinds of tissue-engineered bone membrane and SIS (as control) were implanted randomly into the site of bone defect. The animals had radiographs and were killed after 4 weeks. The specimens were harvested and histological examination performed for evidence of osteogenesis. Bone tissue had formed in defects treated by the two kinds of tissue-engineered bone membrane at 4 weeks. This was supported by the X-ray and histological examination, which confirmed the segmental gap bridged by bone. There was no attempt to bridge in the bone defect treated by SIS. Tissue-engineered bone membrane, constructed by seeding allogeneic cells on an xenogeneic and bio-derived scaffold, can repair critical bone defects successfully.