Especially, it is essential for researchers to fabricate scaffolds that meet high standards of both biological and mechanical performance to recruit and direct osteogenic cells and to endure environmental stresses after implantation in a physiological system. (1−3) Accordingly, many strategies for utilizing scaffolds (4−6) and osteoinductive growth factors or molecules (7−9) have been suggested to promote bone regeneration. Over the past decade, many bone tissue engineering (BTE) studies have been conducted to address the increasing number of bone fractures and orthopedic-releated injuries as the elderly population grows exponentially. Finally, the enhanced osteogenic differentiation of CEGH with sustained release of BMP-2 was confirmed by Alizarin Red S staining and real-time PCR analysis. Then, we evaluated drug release kinetics of CEGH and confirmed the sustained release of BMP-2. After analyzing characteristics of the hybrid scaffold such as hydrophilicity, pore difference, mechanical properties, and surface charge, we confirmed that the hybrid scaffold shows enhanced cell proliferation rate and apatite formation in simulated body fluid. The GH component of the hybrid scaffold provides a hydrophilic surface to improve the biological response of the cells, while the CE component increases the mechanical strength of the scaffold to provide enhanced mechanical support for the defect area and a stable environment for osteogenic differentiation. This hybrid scaffold, composed of BMP-2-loaded cryoelectrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) (CE) surrounded by a macroporous gelatin/heparin cryogel (GH), is designed to overcome the drawbacks of the relatively weak mechanical properties of cryogels and poor biocompatibility and hydrophobicity of electrospun PCL. In this study, we developed a biomimetic hybrid scaffold (CEGH) with sustained release of BMP-2 that would result in enhanced bone formation. In particular, bone-mimicking extracellular matrix and available osteogenic growth factors such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) have been regarded as key contributors for bone regeneration. Bone regeneration is a highly complex physiological process regulated by several factors.

Scaffold meaning biology