Development of hierarchical porous bioceramic scaffolds with controlled micro/nano surface topography for accelerating bone regeneration

Mimicking hierarchical porous architecture of bone has been considered as a valid approach to promote bone regeneration. In this study, hierarchical porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds were constructed by combining digital light processing (DLP) printing technique and in situ growth crystal process. Macro/micro hierarchical scaffolds with designed macro pores for facilitating the ingrowth of bone tissue were fabricated by DLP printing. Three types of micro/nano surface topography were obtained by in situ growth crystal process to regulate stem cells behavior. The attachment and proliferation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) were strongly dependent on the surface roughness and the specific surface area. The micro/nano surface topography distinctly facilitated the differentiation of rBMSCs by targeting MAPK, STAT and AKT signaling pathways, in which the sodium hydroxide treatment group showed the highest promoting effect. Furthermore, in vivo results of skull defect repair model of rats indicated that hierarchical scaffolds with micro/nano topographies exhibited appealing bone regeneration capacity. The hierarchical porous bioceramic scaffolds constructed by integrating structural design and physical stimulation of the external surface topography have great potential for rapid bone repair via modulation of microenvironmental regulatory pathways at the bone defect site.