title: Electrospun hydroxyapatite-functionalized PLLA scaffold: potential applications in sternal bone healing.
abstract: Sternal synthesis after median sternotomy, a conventional access practice in thoracic and cardiac surgery, is at the basis of severe complications, often impairing the clinical outcome of surgical interventions. In this work, we propose the use of an acellular biomaterial scaffold, to be interposed across the fracture rime during closure operations, directly exposing the biomaterial to bone marrow, in order to expedite healing process. A rabbit model of median sternotomy was performed and an electrospun scaffold composed of a hydroxyapatite-loaded absorbable biopolymer (poly-L: -lactide), shaped into a fibrillar structure, was used. CT follow-up confirmed a complete healing in the scaffold-treated group 1 week before the control. Histological evaluation demonstrated presence of newly formed bone trabeculae among scaffold fibers showing a higher degree of maturity with respect to the control untreated group. The proposed approach is able to both guide a more rapid healing and modulate inflammatory response across the wound site, resulting in improved healing and tissue remodeling with respect to conventional closure technique.
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Center for Integrated Research, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy. a.rainer@unicampus.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rainer
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spadaccio
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sedati
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Marco
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carotti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lusini
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vadalà
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chello
authors.forename: Elvio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Covino
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Denaro
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trombetta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011817:Rabbits; D013249:Sternum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D017886:Durapatite