  There is an urgent need of biosynthetic bone grafts with enhanced osteogenic
capacity. In this study, we describe the design of hierarchical
meso-macroporous 3D-scaffolds based on mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs),
enriched with the peptide osteostatin and Zn2+ ions, and their osteogenic
effect on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) as a preclinical strategy in
bone regeneration. By using additive fabrication techniques, scaffolds
exhibiting hierarchical porosity: mesopores , macropores and big channels, were
prepared. These MBG scaffolds with or without osteostatin were evaluated in
cell cultures of hMSCs. Zinc promoted hMSCs colonization (both the surface and
inside) of MBG scaffolds. Moreover, Zn2+ ions and osteostatin together, but not
independently, in the scaffolds were found to induce the osteoblast
differentiation genes runt related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) and alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) in hMSCs after 7 d of culture in the absence of an osteogenic
differentiation-promoting medium. These results add credence to the combined
use of zinc and osteostatin as an effective strategy for bone regeneration
applications.
