Effect of cell sheet combined with 3D printing an antler powder/silk fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol scaffold on the repair of mandibular defects in sheep

To explore the feasibility of antler powder/silk fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol scaffolds as tissue engineering bone scaffolds and the relationship between their degradation performance and the healing speed of bone defects.

Antler powder/silk fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol scaffolds and nano hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol scaffolds were prepared by 3D printing. The whole bone marrow culture method was used to prepare blood cell sheets of Altay big tail sheep's iliac bone marrow. With observation times of 1, 2 and 3 months, the mandibular defects of 4 sheep were established. The experimental group was coated with antler powder/silk fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol scaffolds. The control group was coated with nanohydroxyapatite/silk fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol scaffolds. The negative control group was coated with gel-free sponges. According to the self-control method of the bilateral mandible defect area, scaffolds wrapped with cell membranes or gel sponges wrapped with cell membranes were implanted. At the ends of the first, second and third months after implantation, the experimental animals were killed, cone beam CT was performed, and paraffin sections were taken for HE staining to evaluate the effect of different scaffold materials on bone regeneration and scaffold degradation.

Scanning electron microscopy showed that both groups had regular pores and good continuity, and there was no difference in pore size and porosity between the two groups (P > 0.05). The results of CBCT imaging showed that in 3 months after operation, the experimental group had significantly better repair effects on bone defects than the control group, and the degradation rate matched the bone repair rate. The bone mineral density in the center of the defect was higher than that of the control group, which was close to that of normal bone tissue. The central bone mineral density of the experimental group at each time point was higher than those of the control group and the negative control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). HE staining results showed that the bone cells in the experimental group were more active, with more new capillaries and bone trabeculae formed, and the scaffold material absorbed more than the control group.

The antler powder/silk fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol scaffold can promote the repair of critical bone defects. Its degradability matches its bone tissue healing rate. It is expected to become a promising scaffold material for bone tissue engineering.