posted on 2024-01-04, 16:34authored bySoyun Joo, Yonghyun Gwon, Soyeon Kim, Sunho Park, Jangho Kim, Seungbum Hong
Bone regeneration
remains a critical concern across diverse medical
disciplines, because it is a complex process that requires a combinatorial
approach involving the integration of mechanical, electrical, and
biological stimuli to emulate the native cellular microenvironment.
In this context, piezoelectric scaffolds have attracted considerable
interest owing to their remarkable ability to generate electric fields
in response to dynamic forces. Nonetheless, the application of such
scaffolds in bone tissue engineering has been limited by the lack
of a scaffold that can simultaneously provide both the intricate electromechanical
environment and the biocompatibility of the native bone tissue. Here,
we present a pioneering biomimetic scaffold that combines the unique
properties of piezoelectric and topographical enhancement with the
inherent osteogenic abilities of hydroxyapatite (HAp). Notably, the
novelty of this work lies in the incorporation of HAp into polyvinylidene
fluoride-co-trifluoro ethylene in a freestanding
form, leveraging its natural osteogenic potential within a piezoelectric
framework. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo investigations, we demonstrate the remarkable potential
of these scaffolds to accelerate bone regeneration. Moreover, we demonstrate
and propose three pivotal mechanisms(i) electrical, (ii) topographical,
and (iii) paracrinethat collectively contribute to the facilitated
bone healing process. Our findings present a synergistically derived
biomimetic scaffold design with wide-ranging prospects for bone regeneration
as well as various regenerative medicine applications.