Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Silk fibroin can be used for bone reconstruction and regeneration, showing the mechanical stability and durability. Silk fibroin alone has some shortcomings, it s easily broken at very low water content, and not enough strong in low humidity environments, compounding with other polymer can further improve the silk fibroin structure and properties.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of placenta mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) combined with silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite (SF/HA) materials in repairing rabbit bone defects.
METHODS: A 15-mm length of radius defect model was established in rabbits, which were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, implanted with BrdU-labeled PMSCs/SF/HA and SF/HA respectively. The gross observation, histological and radiographic examinations were analyzed on 4, 8, and 12 weeks after transplantation to evaluate bone defects repair.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After PMSCs/SF/HA implantation, new bone formation at 4 weeks, bone defects were partially repaired at 8 weeks, and some new bone tissues formed lamellar bone and bone trabecular at 12 weeks, with a large amount of osteobloasts were seen, while the scaffolds degraded slowly in the control group. X-ray observation of the experiment group at 12 weeks after operation showed the bone defects were completely repaired, with continuous cortex, complete molding and cannot be distinguished. In control group, the defects were almost repaired, but the molding was poor and the defects can be detected. The new bone formation in the experimental group was better than that in control group. PMSCs/SF/HA composites transplantation can repair the radius bone defect in rabbits.