Highly porous multiple-cell-laden collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Efficient vascularization within a scaffold is an essential criterion for evaluating the success of volumetric bone formation. Various strategies using angiogenic growth factors and cell-based approaches to induce effective osteogenic and angiogenic activities have been investigated. In this study, we propose a new highly porous multiple-cell-laden collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffold fabricated using a whipped bioink. After in vitro culturing of cells in the porous scaffolds for an extended culture period, osteogenic and angiogenic activities were significantly enhanced owing to the well-developed microporous cell-supporting matrix inducing efficient crosstalk between the adipose stem cells and endothelial cells compared to those of the normally bioprinted cell-constructs. Furthermore, the in vitro results were thoroughly evaluated by in vivo experiments using a posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion model of an ovariectomized mouse. Based on these results, the porous multiple-cell-laden scaffolds enhanced spine fusion in the event of osteoporosis.