"Combined synergistic effects of concentrated growth factors and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on regeneration of induced mandibular defects in rabbits"

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential of combining allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) with autologous concentrated growth factors (CGF) to enhance the repair of mandibular defects in rabbits.

Methods: Rabbit ADSCs were characterized using flow cytometry, identifying CD73, CD90, and CD105 as surface markers, while Alizarin Red Staining confirmed osteogenic differentiation, showing substantial mineralized deposits by day 21. A total of 24 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups: BLANK (control group), CGF, ADSCs, and ADSCs/CGF. Each rabbit underwent a standardized mandibular defect procedure, and assessments were conducted at 4 and 12 weeks post-surgery using Micro Computed Tomography (micro-CT) to evaluate bone volume and new bone formation, alongside Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining for histological analysis.

Results: At 4 weeks, the CGF and ADSCs/CGF groups showed partial osteoid tissue formation, while the BLANK and ADSCs groups exhibited less osteoid tissue. By 12 weeks, the CGF and ADSCs/CGF groups demonstrated near-complete bone healing, with the ADSCs/CGF combination showing the most pronounced effects. Micro-CT and histological analyses confirmed significantly higher bone volume and new bone area ratios in the CGF, ADSCs, and ADSCs/CGF groups compared to the BLANK group, with the ADSCs/CGF group being the most effective (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate the synergistic potential of combining CGF with ADSCs to enhance bone regeneration in mandibular defects. The ADSCs/CGF combination offers superior outcomes compared to CGF or ADSCs alone, providing a strong foundation for further research and clinical applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Keywords: adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs); bone regeneration; concentrated growth factors (CGF); mandibular defect; micro computed tomography (micro-CT); rabbit model; synergistic effects; tissue engineering.