β-tcp/collagen composite scaffolds facilitate bone remodeling in vertebral plate fusion

Purpose Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) exhibits rapid osteogenesis and poor ductility. To overcome these disadvantages, we selected β-TCP/collagen for this study. Methods β-TCP/collagen and β-TCP were used as experimental and control groups, respectively. MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured with the material, and the osteogenic ability of the cells was observed using experimental methods such as scanning electron microscopy, flow cytometry, alizarin red staining, ALP staining, RT-qPCR and Western blotting. In the animal experiment, we selected lumbar 3–4 and lumbar 4–5 vertebral plates of the kid goat for implantation of β-TCP/collagen and β-TCP materials, and observed the osteogenesis of vertebral plates at different time periods. Results The β-TCP/collagen have larger mesh pores, which facilitates successful cell crawling growth in in vitro experiments, generates more bone trabeculae from implant fusion in animal experiments, and permits inclusion body formation. Moreover, inclusion body formation was later in the β-TCP/collagen group than in the β-TCP group, but continued for a long period of osteogenesis, and its osteogenic fusion capacity was stronger. Conclusions We hypothesized that the timing of vascular emergence during bone remodeling affects the ability of autologous bone fusion and also suggested that β-TCP/collagen possess longer and stronger osteogenic capacity, making them more suitable for a wide range of clinical applications.