Material-driven fibronectin assembly enables low-dose BMP-2 to regenerate structurally mature bone in critical-sized load-bearing defects

PEA-coated monetite scaffolds functionalized with fibronectin and 25 g/mL rhBMP-2 bridged critical-sized load-bearing defects and regenerated bone with elastic modulus and hardness not statistically distinguishable from native cortical bone in the bridged region.

• Why it matters: Bone graft success is often measured by volume, not whether regenerated tissue is structurally and mechanically competent, especially in large load-bearing defects.
• What they did: Degradable ceramic monetites were coated with PEA and functionalized with FN and rhBMP-2 at 10–25 g/mL, then compared with FN or PRP cues; microCT, quantitative polarized light microscopy, SAXS, nanoindentation, and synchrotron microCT in an ovine model assessed structure and mechanics.
• The result: Only rhBMP-2–bridged constructs increased new bone volume, while PRP reduced bone formation versus FN; multiscale analyses showed hierarchical organization and local mechanical properties approaching cortical tissue, supporting translational potential.

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