Prefabrication of vascularized porous three-dimensional scaffold induced from rhVEGF(165): a preliminary study in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Several shortcomings have limited the routine use of autogenous vascularized bone graft. The present study investigates the prefabrication of vascularized scaffold with the desired shape and microarchitecture combined with recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (rhVEGF(165)) to mimic autogenous vascularized bone graft.


METHODS
Eighty-five porous calcium phosphate cement scaffolds constructed by rapid prototyping technology were divided into four groups: group A [rhVEGF(165)-fibrin sealant (FS) scaffold], group B (hVEGF(165) scaffold), group C (FS scaffold), and group D (scaffold alone). The release of rhVEGF(165) from the scaffolds was examined in vitro. The vessel density, relative functionalized vessels, vessel diameter and relative vessel area were also measured.


RESULTS
The sustained release of hVEGF(165) lasted 14 days in the absence of plasmin and 12 days in the presence of plasmin in group A and 10 days in group B. There was no statistical difference between groups A and B at 2 or 4 weeks in terms of vessel density, relative functionalized vessels, vessel diameter, and relative vessel area, as between groups C and D. However, the above parameters were greater in groups A and B than groups C and D.


CONCLUSIONS
The scaffolds with the desired shape and microarchitecture combined with rhVEGF(165) could shorten the time needed for the construction of prefabricated vascularized grafts and accelerate the maturation of the vessels.
Yang
Pei
P
Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Wang
Chunsheng
C
Shi
Zhibin
Z
Huang
Xin
X
Dang
Xiaoqian
X
Xu
Shanglong
S
Wang
Kunzheng
K
D000818:Animals; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000737:chemistry*
D018786:Bone Substitutes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A