  The osteogenic and angiogenic responses to metal macroporous scaffolds coated
with silicon substituted hydroxyapatite (SiHA) and decorated with vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo.
Ti6Al4V-ELI scaffolds were prepared by electron beam melting and subsequently
coated with Ca10(PO4)5.6(SiO4)0.4(OH)1.6 following a dip coating method. In
vitro studies demonstrated that SiHA stimulates the proliferation of MC3T3-E1
pre-osteoblastic cells, whereas the adsorption of VEGF stimulates the
proliferation of EC2 mature endothelial cells. In vivo studies were carried out
in an osteoporotic sheep model, evidencing that only the simultaneous presence
of both components led to a significant increase of new tissue formation in
osteoporotic bone.
