Injuries to bone and tendons can cause major morbidity in healthy, active people. The ability to provide a scaffold that encourages appropriate cell attachment, growth, and ultimately tissue regeneration, could improve the clinical outcomes from injuries such as rotator cuff tears and non-union fractures. This preliminary study evaluates two novel, porcine extra-cellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds for potential utility in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine.

Two similar ECM scaffolds were evaluated as biomaterials; SSS55 and SSS56, both made from porcine intestinal wall but differing only in their manufacturing process.  The growth of primary osteoblasts and tenocytes was measured using a cell viability assay (Alamar Blue®) and visualised using calcein staining to assess their morphology.

Osteoblasts and tenocytes successfully adhered to and grew on the SSS55 and SSS56 ECM scaffolds over the culture period (7 days for osteoblasts, 3 days for tenocytes).  The morphology of both the osteoblasts and tenocytes were typical of their cell type.

We have identified two novel ECM biomaterial scaffolds that have potential for use in bone and tendon regeneration. Further testing is required to determine whether the cells maintain their phenotype and will support tissue formation on these scaffolds.