Abstract: PURPOSE: To study the feasibility of tissue engineered bone constructed with simvastatin carried by PLGA/CPC and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and screen the effective drug loading of simvastatin. METHODS: Solvent casting-particle leaching technology combined with the phase separation process was used to prepare the different concentrations (simvastatin mass: 0.1, 0.5, 1 mg) of simvastatin carried by PLGA/CPC composite scaffold materials. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the porosity and drug release curve was drawn; Alizarin red staining and type I collagen staining were applied to observe the effect of osteogenic medium and simvastatin on the role of BMSCs to the osteogenetic differentiation. The induced passage 3 cells after dil staining were mixed with the composite scaffold material to a complex. Scanning electron microscopy and laser confocal microscope were used to observe the adhesion on the complex. CCK-8 and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were applied to observe the proliferation and differentiation. SPSS 18.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The scaffold porosity was more than 90% with an average aperture of 200-300 μm. The drug released slowly. There was no obvious interpretation. Type I collagen showed positive expression. Alizarin red staining proofed the formation of mineralization nodules in group which was induced with the conditional medium and simvastatin. 0.5 mg group showed cells adhered to the inner surface of the scaffold material and could significantly promote the proliferation and differentiation of cells. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of simvastatin and osteogenic medium can effectively promote the differentiation of BMSCs. Simvastatin carried by PLGA/CPC scaffold materials is an ideal tissue engineering scaffold material. PLGA/CPC scaffold containing 0.5 mg simvastatin can effectively promote the proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs.

Key words: PLGA/CPC, Simvastatin, Bone marrow stromal stem cells, Bone tissue engineering