Bone Regeneration Using Cotton‐Like Artificial Bone Seeded With Bone Marrow Cells

ABSTRACT Objective Autologous bone grafts using the iliac crest or fibula are considered standard treatment for jawbone defects and cleft palate, but these approaches are clinically not considered to be mild invasion, and there is a risk of complications at the donor site. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel bone regeneration technique involving seeding bone marrow cells onto cotton‐like artificial bone made of β‐TCP/PLGA. Methods Bone marrow cells harvested from the femora and tibiae of 6‐week‐old BALB/c nu/nu mice were seeded onto cotton‐like artificial bone and implanted into a 3.5‐mm cranial bone defect. CT and histological evaluations were performed at 4 and 8 weeks postimplantation to compare bone regeneration capacity. Results The group implanted with cotton‐like artificial bone seeded with bone marrow cells exhibited a significant increase in new bone volume and bone mineral density (BMD) compared with the cotton‐like artificial bone alone (8‐week BMD: 846.49 ± 48.45 mg HA/cm 3 vs. 577.56 ± 28.79 mg/cm 3 , p < 0.05). Histological analysis also confirmed the formation of new bone tissue, suggesting enhanced osteoinductive potential due to bone marrow cell seeding. Conclusion The cotton‐like artificial bone demonstrated excellent morphological adaptability and spatial retention and served as an effective source of cells and cytokines. Overall, cotton‐like artificial bone seeded with bone marrow cells was shown to be a minimally invasive and effective bone regeneration method with high potential for clinical application.