Liquid metal based electroconductive artificial periosteum boosts bone regeneration

Periosteum plays an important role in the growth and regeneration of bone tissue. The development of artificial periosteum has attracted researchers’ interest. Based on the sensitivity of bone tissue to electrical stimulation (ES), the development of electroconductive artificial periosteum is particularly crucial. In this study, an electroconductive liquid metal (LM) based artificial periosteum scaffold was prepared. The effect of the electroconductive artificial periosteum combined with ES on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) was explored. Furthermore, the electroconductive artificial periosteum was coated on the surface of decellularized bone matrix (DBM) to prepare the electroconductive bone repair scaffold. The effect of electroconductive bone repair scaffold combined with ES on the repair of large bone defects was explored in a rabbit radial defects model. The results indicated that the electroconductive artificial periosteum demonstrated favorable biocompatibility and, when combined with ES, could enhance the osteogenic differentiation of BM-MSCs. The electroconductive bone repair scaffold combined with ES could promote the bone integration and bone regeneration of large bone defects. This study is expected to provide meaningful reference for the application of LM based electroconductive periosteum in bone regenerations.