  Bone repair using BMP-2 is a promising therapeutic approach in clinical
practices, however, high dosages required to be effective pose issues of cost
and safety. The present study explores the potential of low dose BMP-2
treatment via tissue engineering approach, which amalgamates 3-D
macro/microporous-nanofibrous bacterial cellulose (mNBC) scaffolds and low dose
BMP-2 primed murine mesenchymal stem cells (C3H10T1/2 cells). Initial studies
on cell-scaffold interaction using unprimed C3H10T1/2 cells confirmed that
scaffolds provided a propitious environment for cell adhesion, growth, and
infiltration, owing to its ECM-mimicking nano-micro-macro architecture.
Osteogenic studies were conducted by preconditioning the cells with 50 ng/mL
BMP-2 for 15 minutes, followed by culturing on mNBC scaffolds for up to three
weeks. The results showed an early onset and significantly enhanced bone matrix
secretion and maturation in the scaffolds seeded with BMP-2 primed cells
compared to the unprimed ones. Moreover, mNBC scaffolds alone were able to
facilitate the mineralization of cells to some extent. These findings suggest
that, with the aid of 'osteoinduction' from low dose BMP-2 priming of stem
cells and 'osteoconduction' from nano-macro/micro topography of mNBC scaffolds,
a cost-effective bone tissue engineering strategy can be designed for quick and
excellent in vivo osseointegration.
