Quantitative assessment of scaffold and growth factor‐mediated repair of critically sized bone defects

An 8‐mm rat segmental defect model was used to evaluate quantitatively the ability of longitudinally oriented poly(L‐lactide‐ co ‐D,L‐lactide) scaffolds with or without growth factors to promote bone healing. BMP‐2 and TGF‐β3, combined with RGD‐alginate hydrogel, were co‐delivered to femoral defects within the polymer scaffolds at a dose previously shown to synergistically induce ectopic mineralization. A novel modular composite implant design...