Fabrication of Vascularized Bone Flaps with Sustained Release of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 and Arteriovenous Bundle

It is a common treatment strategy in the clinic to transplant a vascularized bone flap for a large bone defect. But it is difficult for peripheral blood vessels to grow into the central region of a large bone construct. In this study, we fabricated a vascularized bone flap from a three-dimensional (3D)-printed biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)/β-tri-calcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffold using the combination of an arteriovenous (AV) bundle and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). A degradable porous PLGA/β-TCP scaffold was prepared by adopting 3D plotting and a low-temperature deposition technique. rhBMP-2 chitosan microspheres (CMs) were fabricated and loaded into the scaffolds to induce ectopic bone formation. In Group SBV (scaffold+rhBMP-2+vessel), a femoral AV bundle was implanted into the central tunnel of the composite before embedding into intramuscular pockets. In Group SB (scaffold+rhBMP-2), the composite was directly implanted into intramuscular pockets. Bone formation was evaluated by imaging analysis (X-rays and microcomputed tomography) and histological analysis (Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and Masson staining) after 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. Vascularization was also assessed by imaging analysis (Microfil angiography) and histological analysis (CD31 immunohistochemical staining). The 3D-printed PLGA/β-TCP scaffold had good cytocompatibility. Ectopic bone formation in the scaffold could be successfully induced by the controlled release of rhBMP-2 through CMs. Comparing groups SBV and SB, vascularization of the composite was significantly enhanced by AV bundle implantation at 4 and 12 weeks. Moreover, rhBMP-2-induced bone formation was also significantly improved by the AV bundle at 4 and 12 weeks. The AV bundle not only improved vascularization and bone formation of the construct, but also provided a defined vascular axis to connect with the vascular system of the bone defect by microsurgical techniques. It provided a new potential treatment strategy to repair large bone defects, especially for those with low vascular supply.