This in vitro and in vivo study asks whether integrating melt-electrowritten PCL meshes into amorphous magnesium phosphate (AMP)-laden GelMA hydrogels creates a tunable GBR membrane with independently adjustable mechanical stiffness and osteoinductive bioactivity. The study tests whether this cell- and growth factor-free construct can outperform hydrogel alone in a 5-mm rat calvarial critical-size defect model.
Current resorbable GBR membranes degrade too quickly, collapse into defects, and offer no osteoinductive properties — they function purely as passive barriers. This study introduces a platform where mechanical stiffness and bioactivity are decoupled: more PCL mesh layers increase stiffness independently of chemistry, while AMP concentration drives osteoinduction independently of structure.
When selecting or designing a membrane for a challenging periodontal or craniomaxillofacial defect, this work supports using fiber-reinforced bioactive constructs rather than passive barriers alone. The 8-fold bone volume gain over sham in a critical-size defect. Without any exogenous cells or growth factors. Is clinically significant because it sidesteps the regulatory and immunologic hurdles of cell-based therapies.
The paradox to remember: increasing AMP above 2.5% can reduce stiffness due to agglomeration, so the optimal formulation balances bioactivity and mechanical integrity rather than maximizing either in isolation.
This in vitro and in vivo study asks whether integrating melt-electrowritten PCL meshes into amorphous magnesium phosphate (AMP)-laden GelMA hydrogels creates a tunable GBR membrane with independently adjustable mechanical stiffness and osteoinductive bioactivity. The study tests whether this cell- and growth factor-free construct can outperform hydrogel alone in a 5-mm rat calvarial critical-size defect model.
Current resorbable GBR membranes degrade too quickly, collapse into defects, and offer no osteoinductive properties — they function purely as passive barriers. This study introduces a platform where mechanical stiffness and bioactivity are decoupled: more PCL mesh layers increase stiffness independently of chemistry, while AMP concentration drives osteoinduction independently of structure.
When selecting or designing a membrane for a challenging periodontal or craniomaxillofacial defect, this work supports using fiber-reinforced bioactive constructs rather than passive barriers alone. The 8-fold bone volume gain over sham in a critical-size defect. Without any exogenous cells or growth factors. Is clinically significant because it sidesteps the regulatory and immunologic hurdles of cell-based therapies.
The paradox to remember: increasing AMP above 2.5% can reduce stiffness due to agglomeration, so the optimal formulation balances bioactivity and mechanical integrity rather than maximizing either in isolation.