Platelet lysate coating on scaffolds directly and indirectly enhances cell migration, improving bone and blood vessel formation

Suitable colonization and vascularization of tissue-engineered constructs after transplantation represent critical steps for the success of bone repair. Human platelet lysate (hPL) is composed of numerous growth factors known for their proliferative, differentiative and chemo-attractant effects on various cells involved in wound healing and bone growth. The aim of this study was to determine whether the delivery of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) seeded on hPL-coated hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate (HA/β-TCP) scaffolds could enhance vascularization and bone formation, as well as to investigate the mechanisms by which hMSC participate in tissue regeneration. Our study demonstrates that hPL can be coated on HA/β-TCP scaffolds, which play direct and indirect effects on implanted and/or resident stem cells. Effectively, we show that hPL coating directly increases chemo-attraction to and adhesion of hMSC and endothelial cells on the scaffold. Moreover, we show that hPL coating induces hMSC to produce and secrete pro-angiogenic proteins (placental growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor) which allow the proliferation and specific chemo-attraction of endothelial cells in vitro, thus improving in vivo neovascularization and new bone formation. This study highlights the potential of functionalizing biomaterials with hPL and shows that this growth factor combination can have synergistic effects leading to enhanced bone and blood vessel formation.