Effect of acellular dermal matrix as a delivery carrier of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on bone regeneration

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) as a delivery carrier of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) on bone regeneration in athymic murine calvarial bone defect. Paired-critical size defects in nude rat skull were made. The right-side defects received ASCs/ADM or only ADM, whereas the left-side defect was not treated. In 3D images, new bone formation in the ASCs/ADM group was apparent at 4 wk, but in the ADM group at 8 wk. At 4 and 8 wk, bone mineral density and tissue volume in rats that received ASCs/ADM were significantly greater than rats that received ADM and control groups. Histological examination revealed that the defect was repaired by bone in the ASCs/ADM group, whereas only minimal bone island with fibrous connection was observed in the control group. In histomorphometric analysis, the total healing score in the ASCs/ADM group at 4 wk was significantly higher than the ADM and negative control group, whereas the score of 8 wk was similar between the ASCs/ADM and ADM group. ASCs/ADM implants promote new bone formation more rapidly than ADM only or no treatment. ADM seeded with ASCs may be potentially useful as a future biomaterial option in bone implants. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 100B: 16451653, 2012.