Figure 6
Tailoring BMP2-delivering-TG-PEG hydrogels properties to enhance bone regeneration in rat calvarial defects. Healing of calvarial bone defects by for four week treatment with BMP2 loaded TG-PEG hydrogels of different stiffnesses that contained or not 50 µM RGD, and that contained MMPsensitive (Deg) cross-links or MMPnon-degradable (Non Deg). (A–C) Representative microCT reconstruction of treated calvarial defects with (A) hydrogels containing MMPsensitive and RGD sites, (B) hydrogels containing MMPsensitive and no RGD sites, and (C) hydrogels containing MMPnon-degradable and RGD sites (scale bars = 5 mm). Native bone in gray and treatment site in yellow. (D–G) MicroCT quantifications comparing MMPsensitive hydrogels containing or not RGD sites based on (D) bone volume (BV), (E) bone surface (BS), (F) connectivity (Conn.D), and (G) coverage (n > 4). (H–K) MicroCT quantifications comparing RGD containing hydrogels with MMPsensitive or MMPnon-degradable cross-links based on (H) bone volume (BV), (I) bone surface (BS), (J) connectivity (Conn.D), and (K) coverage (n > 4). All data are reported as individual data points and means. ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01.
