title: Influence of architecture of β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds on biological performance in repairing segmental bone defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although three-dimensional (3D) β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds serve as promising bone graft substitutes for the segmental bone defect treatment, no consensus has been achieved regarding their optimal 3D architecture.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we has systematically compared four types of β-TCP bone graft substitutes with different 3D architectures, including two types of porous scaffolds, one type of tubular scaffolds and one type of solid scaffolds, for their efficacy in treating segmental bone defect in a rabbit model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study has demonstrated that when compared to the traditional porous and solid scaffolds, tubular scaffolds promoted significantly higher amount of new bone formation in the defect regions as shown by X-ray, micro CT examinations and histological analysis, restored much greater mechanical properties of the damaged bone evidenced by the biomechanical testing, and eventually achieved the complete union of segmental defect. Moreover, the implantation of tubular scaffolds enhanced the neo-vascularization at the defect region with higher bone metabolic activities than others, as indicated by the bone scintigraphy assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has further the current knowledge regarding the profound influence of overall 3D architecture of β-TCP scaffolds on their in vivo defect healing performance and illuminated the promising potential use of tubular scaffolds as effective bone graft substitute in treating large segmental bone defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen-Sheng
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015519:Bone Density; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D016062:Porosity; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate