Abstract:

Objective　To evaluate the prospect of PDLLA/ PLA-PEG-PLA for bone tissue engineering. Methods　Each of 24 cranial defects with 10 mm diameter and complete resection of periosteum of adult rhesus monkeys was implanted with four kinds of composite scaffolds seeding osteoblasts with good cell biocompatibility in cell culture model. The specimens were harvested in 6，12 weeks. The samples were examined by X-ray,  histology and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) to evaluate the effect of defect repair.  Results　All of the experimental animals survived from the operation and the incisions healed without special treatment. The results obtained from radiographic bone formation，histologic analysis and SEM indicated the PDLLA,  PDLLA/BG,  PDLLA/β-TCP and PDLLA/PLA-PEG-PLA cell-polymers stimulated more bone formation than control group and osteoblasts injection group. And PDLLA/BG, PDLLA/β-TCP and PDLLA/PLA-PEG-PLA cell-polymers have more bone formation than PDLLA cell-polymers. The scores of X-ray examination demonstrated a maximum bone formation of 70% of defects with PDLLA/PLA-PEG-PLA cell-polymers. Conclusion Four kinds cell-polymers of PDLLA, PDLLA/BG, PDLLA/β-TCP and PDLLA/PLA-　PEG-PLA can be used for bone tissue engineering to improve the bone formation in vivo. PDLLA/PLA-　PEG-PLA was a new valuable scaffold and showed a applied prospect for bone tissue engineering.

Key words: Novel , bone（PDLLA/PLA-PEG-PLA）, Repair, Rhesus monkey, Cranial defects