title: Presentation of a novel model of chitosan- polyethylene oxide-nanohydroxyapatite nanofibers together with bone marrow stromal cells to repair and improve minor bone defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various methods for repairing bone defects are presented. Cell therapy is one of these methods. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) seem to be suitable for this purpose. On the other hand, lots of biomaterials are used to improve and repair the defect in the body, so in this study we tried to produce a similar structure to the bone by the chitosan and hydroxyapatite.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the solution of chitosan-nanohydroxyapatite-polyethylene oxide (PEO) Nanofibers was produced by electrospinning method, and then the BMSCs were cultured on this solution. A piece of chitosan-nanohydroxyapatite Nanofibers with BMSCs was placed in a hole with the diameter of 1 mm at the distal epiphysis of the rat femur. Then the biomechanical and radiographic studies were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biomechanical testing results showed that bone strength was significantly higher in the Nanofiber/BMSCs group in comparison with control group. Also the bone strength in nanofiber/BMSCs group was significant, but in nanofiber group was nearly significant. Radiographic studies also showed that the average amount of callus formation (radio opacity) in nanofiber and control group was not significantly different. The callus formation in nanofiber/BMSCs group was increased compared to the control group, and it was not significant in the nanofiber group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since chitosan-nanohydroxyapatite nanofibers with BMSCs increases the rate of bone repair, the obtained cell-nanoscaffold shell can be used in tissue engineering and cell therapy, especially for bone defects.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran ; Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Payame Noor University, Unit of Tehran Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Asgar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emamgholi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Homayoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sadraie
authors.affiliation: Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Payame Noor University, Unit of Tehran Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najafi
keywords: BMSCs; Chitosan; Nanofibers; Scaffolds