Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract Critical‐size bone trauma injuries present a significant clinical challenge because of the limited availability of autografts. In this study, a photocurable composite comprising of polycaprolactone, polypropylene fumarate, and nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHAP) (P─P─H) is printed, which shows good osteoconduction in a rat model. A cryogel composed of gelatin‐nHAP (GH) is developed to incorporate osteogenic components, specifically bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) and zoledronic acid (ZA), termed as GH+B+Z, which is investigated for osteoinductive property in a rat model. Further, a 3D‐printed P─P─H scaffold impregnated with GH+B+Z is designed and implanted in a critical‐size defect (25 × 10 × 5 mm) in goat tibia. After 4 months, the scaffold is well‐integrated with adjacent native bone, with osteoinduction observed in the cryogel‐filled region and osteoconduction over the printed scaffold. X‐ray radiography and micro‐CT analysis showed bone in‐growth in the treatment group with 45 ± 1.4% bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), while the defect remained unhealed in the control group with BV/TV of 10.5 ± 0.5%. Histology showed significant cell infiltration and matrix deposition over the printed P─P─H scaffold and within the GH cryogel site in the treatment group. Immunohistochemical staining depicted significantly higher normalized collagen I intensity in the treatment group (34.45 ± 2.61%) compared to the control group (4.22 ± 0.78).
Nikhil et al. (Mon,) studied this question.