In vitro and in vivo studies of rhBMP2‐coated PS/PCL fibrous scaffolds for bone regeneration

Abstract The control of porous microstructure and the use of rhBMP2 as surface coating on bone substitutes have been recognized as key factors to accelerate osteoconductivity. In this study, instead of using a meso‐porous fibrous scaffold of poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL), a micro‐ and macro‐porous fibrous scaffold, made up of blended polystyrene (PS) and PCL, was created to investigate these key factors. In vitro studies, MTT assay and scanning electron microscope (SEM) morphology confirmed that PS/PCL fibrous membrane has non‐toxicity and shows excellent cells adhesion and proliferation behavior. Significant improvements regarding cell attachment, cell growth, and cell proliferation were observed using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (rhBMP2)‐coated PS/PCL fibrous scaffold confirmed by SEM and confocal observation. Results of micro‐CT scanning and the Hematoxylin & Eosin/Masson's Trichrom staining of tissue sections from the post‐implantation revealed that rhBMP2‐coated PS/PCL fibrous scaffold recovered over 75 vol % of the bone defect after 8 weeks of implantation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A: 797–808, 2013.