# In situ BMSC Seeding of 3D Printed Scaffolds Using Cell-releasing Hydrogels

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2021 · $159,392

## Abstract

IN SITU BMSC SEEDING OF 3D PRINTED SCAFFOLDS USING CELL-RELEASING HYDROGELS
In the current proposal, we will investigate the effect of in situ BMSC seeding of 3D printed polyHIPE grafts on
bone formation. The combination of the cell-releasing hydrogel carrier with advanced 3D manufacturing
technologies has the potential to generate a graft with patient-specific geometries and enhanced bone
regeneration. To this end, we recently developed a multi-modal printing system to generate tissue engineered
scaffolds that mimic the native structure of bone. In this system, fumarate-based emulsion inks with hierarchical
porosity (polyHIPE) were reinforced with a poly(lactic acid) shell to achieve simultaneous improvements in
permeability and compressive properties. In addition to the design of scaffold properties, success as a bone graft
depends on the delivery or recruitment of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) that aid regeneration through a
variety of mechanisms including serving as new centers of bone formation and secretion of trophic factors that
modulate inflammation, stimulate angiogenesis, and limit fibrosis. We have developed a biodegradable cell-
releasing hydrogel carrier that cures in situ to seed our 3D printed bone graft with BMSC at the time of surgery
with subsequent cell release onto the scaffold after the initial inflammatory period. In situ BMSC seeding of
scaffolds has the potential to minimize the costs, treatment delays, and regulatory hurdles of extended pre-
culture periods. At the end of the grant period, we will have identified the target cell-release profile that improves
cell retention and BMSC-initiated osteogenesis in an ectopic bone model. This will provide strong evidence of
the osteoinductive character of the cell-seeded bone graft and support future investigation in a large animal
orthotropic model (R01). In addition to improving bone grafting procedure, these studies will validate a method
of BMSC delivery that can be used in a broad range of applications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10210190
- **Project number:** 5R21AR076708-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Marie Cosgriff-Hernandez
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $159,392
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-06 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10210190

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10210190, In situ BMSC Seeding of 3D Printed Scaffolds Using Cell-releasing Hydrogels (5R21AR076708-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10210190. Licensed CC0.

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