Prefabrication of vascularized bioartificial bone grafts in vivo for segmental mandibular reconstruction: experimental pilot study in sheep and first clinical application

The key elements for bioartificial bone formation in 3D matrices are large numbers of osteogenic cells and supplies of oxygen and nutrition. Vascularization becomes more important with the increasing size and complexity of seeded scaffolds required for clinical application in reconstructive craniomaxillofacial surgery. Prefabrication of vascularized bioartificial bone grafts in vivo might be an alternative to in vitro tissue engineering techniques. Two cylindrical β-TCP-scaffolds (25 mm long) were intraoperatively filled with autogenous bone marrow from the iliac crest for cell loading and implanted into the latissimus dorsi muscle in 12 sheep. To determine the effect of axial perfusion, one scaffold in each sheep was surgically supplied with a central vascular bundle. Sheep were killed 3 months after surgery. Histomorphometric analysis showed autogenous bone marrow from the iliac crest was an effective source of osteogenic cells and growth factors, inducing considerable ectopic bone growth in all implanted scaffolds. Bone growth, ceramic resorption and angiogenesis increased significantly with axial perfusion. The results encourage the application of prefabricated bioartificial bone for segmental mandibular reconstruction in man. In clinical practice, vascularized bioartificial bone grafts could change the principles of bone transplantation with minimal donor site morbidity and no shape or volume limitations.