AUTHOR=Zheng Shaowei , Zhong Haobo , Cheng Hao , Li Xu , Zeng Guowei , Chen Tianyu , Zou Yucong , Liu Weile , Sun Chunhan 

TITLE=Engineering Multifunctional Hydrogel With Osteogenic Capacity for Critical-Size Segmental Bone Defect Repair

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.899457

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2022.899457

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>Treating critical-size segmental bone defects is an arduous challenge in clinical work. Preparation of bone graft substitutes with notable osteoinductive properties is a feasible strategy for critical-size bone defects. Herein, a biocompatible hydrogel was designed by dynamic supramolecular assembly of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sodium tetraborate (Na<sub>2</sub>B<sub>4</sub>O<sub>7</sub>), and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The characteristics of the supramolecular hydrogel were evaluated by rheological analysis, swelling ratio, degradation experiments, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In <italic>in vitro</italic> experiments, this TEOS-hydrogel had self-healing property, low swelling rate, degradability, good biocompatibility, and induced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by upregulating the expression of Runx-2, Col-1, OCN, and osteopontin (OPN). In segmental bone defect rabbit models, the TEOS-containing hydrogel accelerated bone regeneration, thus restoring the continuity of bone and recanalization of the medullary cavity. The abovementioned results demonstrated that this TEOS-hydrogel has the potential to realize bone healing in critical-size segmental bone defects.</p>