Abstract
Bone graft material should possess sufficient porosity and permeability to allow integration with native tissue and vascular invasion, and must satisfy oxygen and nutrient transport demands. In this study, we have examined the use of three-dimensional (3D)-printed polycaprolactone/tricalcium phosphate (PCL/TCP) composite material in bone grafting, to estimate the scope of its potential application in bone surgery. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) are known to enhance osteointegration. We hypothesized that a patient-specific 3D-printed solid scaffold could help preserve seeded ADSCs and BMSCs and enhance osteointegration. Diffuse osteogenic tissue formation was observed by micro-computed tomography with both stem cell types, and the ADSC group displayed similar osteogenesis compared to the BMSC group. In histological assessment, the scaffold pores showed abundant ossification in both groups. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that the BMSC group had higher expression of genes associated with ossification, and this was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The ADSC- and BMSC-seeded 3D-printed PCL/TCP scaffolds displayed promising enhancement of osteogenesis in a dog model of maxillary bone defects.