Remodeling Effects of the Combination of GGT Scaffolds, Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation, and Acupuncture on Large Bone Defects in Rats

Abstract

The regeneration defect of bone is a long-term physiological process after bone injuries. To accelerate the bone remodeling process, the combination of chemical and physical stimulations provides an efficient strategy to allow maturation and to functionalize osteoclasts and osteoblasts. This study aims to investigate the dual effects of a tricalcium phosphate (TCP)-based gelatin scaffold (GGT) in combination with electroacupuncture stimulation on the activation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, as well as new bone regrowthin vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that electrical stimulation changes the pH of a culture medium and activates osteoblasts and osteoclasts in anin vitroco-culture system. Furthermore, we showed that electroacupuncture stimulation can enhance osteogenesis and new bone regrowthin vivoand can upregulate the mechanism among parathyroid hormone intact (PTH-i), calcium, osteoclasts, and osteoblasts in the bone-defected rats. Those results showed the potential interest to combine the electroacupuncture technique with GGT scaffolds to improve bone remodeling after injury.