Mesenchymal stem cell growth on and mechanical properties of fibrin-based biomimetic bone scaffolds

Using the microenvironment of healing bone tissue as inspiration, this study utilized fibrin hydrogels combined with collagen type I and calcium phosphate ceramics to create a biomimetic bone scaffold. The contribution each component had on the growth of mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) was assessed, and changes in the scaffold's mechanical properties were measured by indentation testing. The results show cell growth was greatest in scaffolds with lower concentrations of fibrinogen complex and followed a similar trend with the addition of collagen. However, cell growth was greatest in fibrin scaffolds with high concentrations of fibrinogen complex when combined with hydroxyapatite--tricalcium phosphate. The fibrin scaffold's stiffness does not significantly change over time, but the addition of collagen to scaffolds with low concentrations of fibrinogen complex had significant increases in stiffness by day 14. These results demonstrate that hMSC do not rapidly degrade fibrin and fibrin-collagen scaffolds in vitro. The data reported here can aid in the design and fabrication of fibrin-based engineered tissues and cell delivery vehicles that promote hMSC growth and viability as well as meet the mechanical requirements of native tissues. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2945-2953, 2016.