{
  "abstract": "Repair of critical-sized bone defects remains challenging because successful regeneration requires both osteogenesis and vascular support. This study investigated whether a biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold functionalized with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6), combined with chicken bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), could enhance bone regeneration. Porous PLGA scaffolds were functionalized with VEGF and BMP-6, seeded with MSCs, and implanted into surgically created chicken femoral defects. Bone regeneration was evaluated after eight weeks by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological analysis. The effects of VEGF and BMP-6 on MSC osteogenic differentiation were further assessed by Alizarin Red S staining and quantitative real-time PCR. Among the treatment groups, VEGF/BMP-6-functionalized scaffolds combined with MSCs produced the greatest bone volume and most extensive defect bridging. In vitro, VEGF and BMP-6 modulated matrix mineralization and osteogenic marker expression. These findings demonstrate the regenerative potential of a multifunctional PLGA-based construct integrating growth-factor functionalization and MSC transplantation. Because an MSC-only scaffold group was not included, the individual contributions of MSCs and growth-factor functionalization to the enhanced in vivo response cannot be distinguished.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jae Sung Suh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ching Ju Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Vedavathi Madhu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Adam S. Wilson"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Weitao Wang",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3155-1828"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Te-Feng A. Chou",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1255-7020"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xinlin Yang",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2140-3207"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Abhijit S. Dighe"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Quanjun Cui"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/736aht2594hry.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/biom16111556",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "736aht2594hry",
  "issns": [
    "2218-273X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/11/1556",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2204|Bone Tissue Engineering Materials"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223694866",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-26",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/736aht2594hry.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:59Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/biom16111556",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/16/11/1556"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "issn:2218-273X",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A VEGF/BMP-6-Functionalized PLGA Scaffold Combined with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Bone Regeneration in a Chicken Femoral Defect Model",
  "title_text": "A VEGF/BMP-6-Functionalized PLGA Scaffold Combined with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Bone Regeneration in a Chicken Femoral Defect Model",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:59Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/736aht2594hry",
  "venue": "Biomolecules",
  "versions": []
}