The effects of biomimetically conjugated VEGF on osteogenesis and angiogenesis of MSCs (human and rat) and HUVECs co-culture models

The purpose of this work was to investigate if the biomimetically conjugated VEGF and HUVECs co-culture could modulate the osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation of MSCs derived from rat and human bone marrow (rMSCs and hMSCs). After treated by ammonia plasma, Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) electrospun nanofibers were immobilized with VEGF through heparin to fulfil the sustained release. The proliferation capacity of rMSCs and hMSCs on neat PLGA nanofibers (NF) and VEGF immobilized NF (NF-VEGF) surfaces were assessed by CCK-8 and compared when MSCs were mono-cultured and co-cultured with HUVECs. The effect of VEGF and HUVECs co-culturing on osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation of rMSCs and hMSCs were investigated by calcium deposits and CD31 expression on NF and NF-VEGF surfaces. The results indicated that VEGF has been biomimetically immobilized onto PLGA nanofibers surface and kept sustained release successfully. The CD31 staining results showed that both VEGF and HUVECs co-culture could enhance the angiogenesis of rMSCs and hMSCs. However, the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs when cultured with VEGF and HUVECs showed a species dependent response. Taken together, VEGF immobilization and co-culture with HUVECs promoted angiogenesis of MSCs, indicating a good strategy for vascularization in bone tissue engineering. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.