# Micro- and nanofiber enabled biomimetic periosteum for bone repair and reconstruction

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2020 · $563,945

## Abstract

Segmental bone defects frequently occur as a result of trauma, infection and tumor resection in
orthopaedic and craniofacial clinical practice. Bone graft transplantation has been used as the primary
treatment regimen for reconstruction of large segmental bone defects. Each year over 600,000 bone grafting
procedures are performed in the United States, and more than 2.2 million are performed worldwide. Current
choices for bone grafting materials include autograft, allograft, and synthetic materials. While an autograft is
considered as the “gold standard”, the use of autograft is extremely limited due to the associated donor site
morbidity and the restricted availability for repair of large bone defects. Allograft remains a top choice for repair
of large defects that require immediate support. However, due to the lack of viable angiogenic and osteogenic
cells, healing and incorporation of bone allograft are extremely slow and limited. The limited bone forming,
revascularizing and remodeling properties of structural allograft are directly associated with a 25% to 35%
failure rate within 2 years and a 60% failure rate in 10 years after implantation as a result of non-union,
infection and propagation of microcracks of the devitalized bone. To overcome the limitation associated with
structural allograft, we proposed a tissue engineering strategy to revitalize allograft by creating a functional
periosteum to enhance allograft incorporation and remodeling. With the development of a versatile
electrospinning technique and a novel near-field electrostatic printing (NFEP) method, our current proposal
seeks to combine several scientific and technical advances into the creation of a micro/nanofibers-based,
multi-modular, prevascularized bone tissue graft, with growth factor releasing property, simulating the highly
organized and functional periosteum for reconstruction of large bone defects. Incorporation of key molecular
signals and relevant cellular sources that promote both osteogenesis and angiogenesis will be addressed. The
completion of the project could 1) establish a novel methodology to control the spatiotemporal assembly of
osteogenic and angiogenic/vasculogenic cells into a multi-functional 3-dimensional cellular construct; 2) offer
mechanistic information on anastomosis and integration of engineered vascular networks with host circulation;
and 3) provide the basis and means for understanding of cell-matrix interactions and for engineering of
microenvironments to direct progenitor cell differentiation for bone defect repair and reconstruction. The
success of our current project will also lay foundation for engineering of more sophisticated blood vessels with
hierarchical patterns, which could achieve a wide impact on various tissue reconstructions. Clinically, the
success of the project could further offer rationales and strategies to effectively deliver osteogenic and
angiogenic/vasculogenic cell populations for enhanced repair and reconstruction ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9987516
- **Project number:** 5R01AR067859-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Hongjun Wang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $563,945
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-03-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9987516

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9987516, Micro- and nanofiber enabled biomimetic periosteum for bone repair and reconstruction (5R01AR067859-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9987516. Licensed CC0.

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