Biomimetic Bone-Like Composite Hydrogel Scaffolds Composed of Collagen Fibrils and Natural Hydroxyapatite for Promoting Bone Repair

Abstract

Bone is a complex organic–inorganic composite tissue composed of ∼30% organics and ∼70% hydroxyapatite (HAp). Inspired by this, we used 30% collagen and 70% HAp extracted from natural bone using the calcination method to generate a biomimetic bone composite hydrogel scaffold (BBCHS). In one respect, BBCHS, with a fixed proportion of inorganic and organic components similar to natural bone, exhibits good physical properties. In another respect, the highly biologically active and biocompatible HAp from natural bone effectively promotes osteogenic differentiation, and type I collagen facilitates cell adhesion and spreading. Additionally, the well-structured porosity of the BBCHS provides sufficient growth space for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) while promoting substance exchange. Compared to the control group, the new bone surface of the defective location in the B-HA70+Col group is increased by 3.4-fold after 8 weeks of in vivo experiments. This strategy enables the BBCHS to closely imitate the chemical makeup and physical structure of natural bone. With its robust biocompatibility and osteogenic activity, the BBCHS can be easily adapted for a wide range of bone repair applications and offers promising potential for future research and development.