Abstract
Allogeneic bone grafts are used to treat bone defects in orthopedic surgery, but the osteogenic potential of artificial bones remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) formulation containing MgO, ZnO, SrO, and SiO2 and compared its bone-forming ability with that of β-TCP without biological elements. We prepared β-TCP discs with 60% porosity containing 1.0 wt% of these biological elements. β-TCP scaffolds were loaded with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) from 7-week-old male rats and cultured for 2 weeks. ALP activity and mRNA expression of osteogenic markers were evaluated. In addition, scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously in rats and analyzed after 7 weeks. In vitro, the MgO group showed lower Ca concentrations and higher osteogenic marker expression compared to controls. In vivo, the MgO group showed higher ALP activity compared to controls, and RT-qPCR analysis showed significant expression of BMP2 and VEGF. Histopathology, fluorescent immunostaining, and micro-CT also showed relatively better bone formation in the MgO group. β-TCP with MgO may enhance bone morphology in vitro and in vivo and improve the prognosis of patients with substantial and refractory bone defects.