Wu, HongweiLei, PengfeiLiu, GengyanShrike Zhang, YuYang, JingzhouZhang, LongboXie, JieNiu, WantingLiu, HuaRuan, JianmingHu, YiheZhang, Chaoyue2017-06-152017Wu, H., P. Lei, G. Liu, Y. Shrike Zhang, J. Yang, L. Zhang, J. Xie, et al. 2017. “Reconstruction of Large-scale Defects with a Novel Hybrid Scaffold Made from Poly(L-lactic acid)/Nanohydroxyapatite/Alendronate-loaded Chitosan Microsphere: in vitro and in vivo Studies.” Scientific Reports 7 (1): 359. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-00506-z. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00506-z.http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:33029764A chitosan-based microsphere delivery system has been fabricated for controlled release of alendronate (AL). The present study aimed to incorporate the chitosan/hydroxyapatite microspheres-loaded with AL (CH/nHA-AL) into poly(L-lactic acid)/nanohydroxyapatite (PLLA/nHA) matrix to prepare a novel microspheres-scaffold hybrid system (CM-ALs) for drug delivery and bone tissue engineering application. The characteristics of CM-ALs scaffolds containing 10% and 20% CH/nHA-AL were evaluated in vitro, including surface morphology and porosity, mechanical properties, drug release, degradation, and osteogenic differentiation. The in vivo bone repair for large segmental radius defects (1.5 cm) in a rabbit model was evaluated by radiography and histology. In vitro study showed more sustained drug release of CM-AL-containing scaffolds than these of CM/nHA-AL and PLLA/nHA/AL scaffolds, and the mechanical and degradation properties of CM-ALs (10%) scaffolds were comparable to that of PLLA/nHA control. The osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) was significantly enhanced as indicated by increased alkaline phosphates (ALP) activity and calcium deposition. In vivo study further showed better performance of CM-ALs (10%) scaffolds with complete repair of large-sized bone defects within 8 weeks. A microspheres-scaffold-based release system containing AL-encapsulated chitosan microspheres was successfully fabricated in this study. Our results suggested the promising application of CM-ALs (10%) scaffolds for drug delivery and bone tissue engineering.en-USReconstruction of Large-scale Defects with a Novel Hybrid Scaffold Made from Poly(L-lactic acid)/Nanohydroxyapatite/Alendronate-loaded Chitosan Microsphere: in vitro and in vivo StudiesJournal Article2017-06-1510.1038/s41598-017-00506-z