Basic fibroblast growth factor enhances in vitro mineralization of rat bone marrow stromal cells grown on non-woven hyaluronic acid based polymer scaffold

A biodegradable non-woven hyaluronic acid polymer scaffold (Hyaff(R) 11) wa s analysed in vitro as a carrier vehicle for differentiation and mineraliza tion of rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC). BMSC were grown on Hyaff(R) 1 1 in a mineralizing medium in the presence/absence of basic fibroblast grow th factor (bFGF). Osteoblastic differentiation was investigated by light an d electron microscopy analysing the expression of osteogenic markers: calci um, alkaline phosphatase (AP), osteopontin (OP), bone sialoprotein (BSP) an d collagen type I. We also measured proliferation, AP activity and mRNA exp ression of AP and osteocalcin (OC). Electron microscopy and Toluidine-blue staining demonstrated that bFGF accelerated (day 20 vs. day 40) and increas ed mineralization. With bFGF, calcium, OP and BSP were strongly enhanced at day 40, whereas AP decreased. Our in vitro results demonstrate that Hyaff( R) 11 is a useful vehicle for growth, differentiation and mineralization of rat BMSC, and that it permits bone development. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.