Casarrubios Molina, LauraGómez Cerezo, María NatividadSánchez Salcedo, SandraFeito Castellano, María JoséSerrano, M.C.Saiz-Pardo, M.Ortega Menor, LorenaDe Pablo, D.Díaz-Güemes, I.Fernández-Tomé, E.Enciso, SPortolés Pérez, María TeresaSanchez-Margallo, F.MArcos Navarrete, DanielVallet Regí, María Dulce NombreSanchez-Margallo, F. M.2023-06-162023-06-162019-10-311742-706110.1016/j.actbio.2019.10.033https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/5967RESEARCHER ID L-6167-2014 (Daniel Arcos Navarrete) ORCID 0000-0002-5367-7272 (Daniel Arcos Navarrete) RESEARCHER ID M-3378-2014 (María Vallet Regí) ORCID 0000-0002-6104-4889 (María Vallet Regí) RESEARCHER ID U-1678-2017 (María Teresa Portolés Pérez) ORCID 0000-0002-9681-0184 (María Teresa Portolés Pérez)Silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite (SiHA) macroporous scaffolds have been prepared by robocasting. In order to optimize their bone regeneration properties, we have manufactured these scaffolds presenting different microstructures: nanocrystalline and crystalline. Moreover, their surfaces have been decorated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to evaluate the potential coupling between vascularization and bone regeneration. In vitro cell culture tests evidence that nanocrystalline SiHA hinders pre-osteblast proliferation, whereas the presence of VEGF enhances the biological functions of both endothelial cells and pre-osteoblasts. The bone regeneration capability has been evaluated using an osteoporotic sheep model. In vivo observations strongly correlate with in vitro cell culture tests. Those scaffolds made of nanocrystalline SiHA were colonized by fibrous tissue, promoted inflammatory response and forested osteoclast recruitment. These observations discard nanocystalline SiHA as a suitable material for bone regeneration purposes. On the contrary, those scaffolds made of crystalline SiHA and decorated with VEGF exhibited bone regeneration properties, with high ossification degree, thicker trabeculae and higher presence of osteoblasts and blood vessels. Considering these results, macroporous scaffolds made of SiHA and decorated with VEGF are suitable bone grafts for regeneration purposes, even in adverse pathological scenarios such as osteoporosis.engjournal articlehttps://www.journals.elsevier.com/acta-biomaterialiahttp://www.ucm.es/valletregigroupopen access546615.4666Silicon substituted hydroxyapatiteMacroporous scaffoldVEGFOsteoporosisIn vivo testMaterialesQuímica inorgánica (Farmacia)3312 Tecnología de Materiales