Autologous bone marrow stromal cells loaded onto porous gelatin scaffolds containing Drynaria fortunei extract for bone repair

Abstract GGT‐GSB composite was prepared by mixing a biodegradable GGT composite containing genipin‐crosslinked gelatin and β‐tricalcium phosphate with Gu‐Sui‐Bu extract (GSB) (Drynaria fortunei (Kunze) J. Sm.), a traditional Chinese medicine. Then, porous GGT and GGT‐GSB scaffolds were fabricated using a salt‐leaching method. The GGT and GGT‐GSB scaffolds thus obtained had a macroporous structure and high porosity. Rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were seeded onto GGT and GGT‐GSB scaffolds. The biological response of rabbit calvarial bone to these scaffolds was considered to evaluate the potential of the scaffolds for use in bone tissue engineering. After 8 weeks of implantation, each scaffold induced new bone formation at a cranial bone defect, as was verified by X‐ray microradiography. The BMSC‐seeded GGT‐GSB scaffolds induced more new bone formation than the BMSC‐seeded GGT and acellular scaffolds. These observations suggest that an autologous BMSCs‐seeded porous GGT‐GSB scaffold can be adopted in bone engineering in vivo and has great potential for regenerating defective bone tissue. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.