Fibrin-Based Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering

Fibrin-based biomaterials have emerged as versatile platforms for the regeneration of bone tissue, drawing on the intrinsic properties of fibrin as a principal component of the coagulation cascade. Owing to its excellent biocompatibility, tunable degradability and ability to bind growth factors, fibrin readily supports cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. In bone tissue engineering, fibrin can be formulated as hydrogels, sealants or composite scaffolds and combined with proteins such as collagen, polysaccharides or inorganic phases to approximate the mechanical and biochemical milieu of native bone extracellular matrix. Despite its favourable biological profile, native fibrin exhibits limited mechanical strength and rapid degradation, prompting the development of hybrid constructs that incorporate calcium phosphate minerals, synthetic polymers or reinforcing fibres. Advanced fabrication techniques—including automated gel aspiration-ejection, electrospinning and three-dimensional printing—enable precise control over microarchitecture, porosity and stiffness, thereby guiding osteogenic cell behaviour and vascular ingrowth. By integrating angiogenic cues and mesenchymal stem cells, these constructs promote coordinated neovascularisation and matrix mineralisation, essential for long-term bone regeneration. Collectively, fibrin-based scaffolds offer a modular and clinically translatable approach to repair critical-sized defects, with the potential to reduce reliance on autografts and allografts while customising treatment to patient-specific anatomical requirements.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Research from all publishers

Recent studies have advanced the design of collagen–fibrin hybrid hydrogels with dense microarchitectures that mimic native bone extracellular matrix. By employing an automated gel aspiration-ejection process and functionalising scaffolds with silk sericin, researchers achieved accelerated acellular mineral deposition and enhanced osteoblastic differentiation of pre-osteoblastic cells, resulting in improved matrix mineralisation and insights into cell–matrix interactions in vitro.

Composite scaffolds combining fibrin, alginate and calcium phosphate have demonstrated simultaneous pro-angiogenic and osteogenic potential. Porous, crosslinked fibrin/alginate matrices uniformly incorporated biomimetic calcium phosphate deposits, supported adhesion and osteogenic differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells, and induced robust blood vessel ingrowth in ex ovo assays. These findings underscore the value of mineral-reinforced hydrogels for functional bone repair.

A systematic appraisal of fibrin glue laden with mesenchymal stem cells highlights its clinical promise in bone regeneration. Preclinical models revealed that stem cell–embedded fibrin sealants markedly improved defect healing by promoting angiogenesis, extracellular matrix deposition and cell–matrix communication. Early clinical investigations reported enhanced bone formation with minimal postoperative complications, illustrating the translational potential of cell-based fibrin therapies.

Fibrin-Based Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in fibrin-based biomaterials for bone tissue engineering across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Fibrin: A fibrous protein formed from fibrinogen during blood coagulation, used as a biodegradable scaffold material.

Hydrogel: A three-dimensional network of hydrophilic polymers capable of retaining water and mimicking soft tissue properties.

Extracellular matrix: The complex assembly of proteins and polysaccharides surrounding cells, providing structural support and biochemical signals.

Osteogenesis: The process of bone formation, involving differentiation of progenitor cells into osteoblasts and subsequent mineral deposition.

Angiogenesis: The growth of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, critical for supplying nutrients and cells during tissue regeneration.

Mesenchymal stem cell: A multipotent stromal cell capable of differentiating into bone, cartilage and other mesenchymal lineages.

Composite scaffold: An engineered structure combining two or more materials, designed to achieve tailored mechanical, biological and degradation properties.

References

1. Mineralization of Bone Extracellular Matrix-like Scaffolds Fabricated as Silk Sericin-Functionalized Dense Collagen–Fibrin Hybrid Hydrogels. Pharmaceutics (2023).
2. Pro-angiogenic and osteogenic composite scaffolds of fibrin, alginate and calcium phosphate for bone tissue engineering. Journal of Tissue Engineering (2021).
3. Effects of Therapy with Fibrin Glue combined with Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) on Bone Regeneration: A Systematic Review. Cells (2021).
4. Fibrin as a Multipurpose Physiological Platform for Bone Tissue Engineering and Targeted Delivery of Bioactive Compounds. Pharmaceutics (2019).