Biomimicry, biomineralization, and bioregeneration of bone using advanced three-dimensional fibrous hydroxyapatite scaffold

Abstract

Biomimicry, biomineralization, and bioregeneration technologies will pave the way for regenerative medicine toward better human health. Functional fibrous scaffold with extracellular matrix–like natural structure and the three-dimensional (3D) network is crucial to meet the complex requirements of cell and new bone tissue growth. In this study, we fabricated 3D fibrous hydroxyapatite scaffold (3D FHAS) with biomimicry, biomineralization, and bioregeneration functionalities toward the regeneration and repair of injured bone tissues by integrated electrospinning, phase transformation, and mineralization technique. Our method improved the osteogenic property of the fibrous scaffold. Our 3D FHAS is obtained from silk nanofibers, and it allows the hydroxyapatite (HA) layer to grow into the thickness range that meets the needs of bone growth. The 3D fibrous structure with deeply interconnected pores facilitates cells and nutrition entry into the inside and excreta deliver outside to achieve excellent 3D growth. Moreover, the microstructure of the 3D FHAS surface is similar to the bone structure, easing the HA absorption and utilization by body and thus the new bone tissue formation. In vitro and in vivo results indicate that our 3D FHAS can greatly improve the osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as compared with that of 3D silk fibrous scaffolds. Keywords: 3D fibrous scaffold, Hydroxyapatite fibers, Osteogenic differentiation, Tissue engineering