Evaluation of bone formation within β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds in a sheep scapular bioreactor model using micro-computed tomography analysis.
Al Maruf DSA., Darnell M., Ren J., Tomaskovic-Crook E., Cheng K., Lewin W.
Laboratory Study, published in Regen Biomater (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
- Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
- Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
- Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
- Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
- Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Laboratory Study
- Journal
- Regen Biomater (2026)
- Country
- England
- Reported sample size
- —
- Source database
- PubMed
- PMID
- 42317435
- PMCID
- PMC13275134
- DOI
- 10.1093/rb/rbag097
Abstract (original English)
Critical-sized bone defects in load-bearing regions remain a major clinical challenge. This study investigated how β-tricalcium phosphate (βTCP) scaffold pore size and stem cell source influence bone regeneration using a laser-sintered, plasma-treated polyetherketone (P-PEK) dual-chamber scapular bioreactor model in sheep. On the left scapula, selectively polymerized βTCP (SP-βTCP) scaffolds with two pore sizes were implanted for 16 weeks: a Large Pore design (1.875-mm unit cell; 0.93-mm pore) and a Small Pore design (1.5-mm unit cell; 0.66-mm pore). Adjacent Large Pore scaffolds were loaded with either gelatine methacryloyl (GelMA) alone or GelMA encapsulating autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). On the right scapula, Large Pore scaffolds containing GelMA-encapsulated autologous or allogeneic ADSCs were implanted for 12 weeks. Bone formation was quantified by micro-computed tomography (µCT) and validated by resin-embedded histology. Small Pore scaffolds generated greater bone volume than Large Pore scaffolds. Autologous ADSC-laden scaffolds outperformed GelMA-only controls, particularly in lower bioreactors interfacing with native bone. No significant differences were detected between autologous and allogeneic ADSCs. Histology confirmed bioreactor-dependent variation, with lower bone-contacting chambers consistently producing more mineralized tissue. These findings h
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • This is preclinical work; animal or laboratory results cannot be applied to humans.
Evidence level
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
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