Porous copper- and lithium-doped nano-hydroxyapatite composite scaffold promotes angiogenesis and bone regeneration in the repair of glucocorticoids-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head
Bohua Li, Lei Yan, Qinsheng Hu, Donghai Li, Haiyan Zhao, Pengde Kang
Abstract
Abstract Glucocorticoids-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIONFH) is a common refractory disease. In the present study, we aimed to synthesize the nano-hydroxyapatite-copper-lithium (Cu-Li-nHA) composite porous scaffold to promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis functions to repair GIONFH by regulating the Wnt/ β -catenin and HIF-1 α /VEGF pathways. The physicochemical property of the scaffold was characterized and their osteogenic and angiogenic effects were tested through a serial of experiments in vitro and in vivo . Results showed that 0.25% Cu-Li-nHA scaffolds possessed the highest mechanical and biocompatibility in vitro . Then the 0.25% Cu-Li-nHA scaffolds significantly enhanced the new bone formation on defects in GIONFH rabbits in vivo . Moreover, the scaffold could increase the expression of osteogenic and angiogenic factors along with the activation of factors in Wnt/ β -catenin and HIF-1 α /VEGF pathways in vitro and in vivo . In conclusion, the 0.25% Cu-Li-nHA scaffold could improve the osteogenesis and angiogenesis by upregulating the Wnt/ β -catenin and HIF-1 α /VEGF pathways which benefited to repair the GIONFH in rabbit models.