The performance of BMP-2 loaded TCP/HAP porous ceramics with a polyelectrolyte multilayer film coating.

Delivering rhBMP-2 (recombinant Bone Morphogenic Protein-2) at low but therapeutically efficient dose is one of the current challenges for bone tissue repair. In this context, Polyelectrolyte Multilayer films (PEM) represent an attractive rhBMP-2 carrier due to their ability to protect proteins from denaturation and to coat a wide variety of materials with complex geometry. Herein, we coated macroporous TCP/HAP granules with a biopolymeric PEM film to deliver rhBMP-2 in a "matrix-bound" manner. In vitro release kinetics indicated that the PEM-coated granules sequestered significant amounts of rhBMP-2. The degree of film cross-linking influenced the quantity of rhBMP-2 trapped within the films. Bare (uncoated) TCP/HAP scaffolds were also able to retain rhBMP-2. Bioactivity of rhBMP-2 in the PEM-coated granules was confirmed on two cell markers: luciferase expression on BMP-responsive-element/Luc C2C12 cells and alkaline phosphatase activity induction on C2C12 cells. Promisingly, rhBMP-2 adsorbed onto PEM-coated and on bare granules in a lesser extent, could be stored and remained bioactive over at least 3 weeks. In vivo, both uncoated and PEM-coated TCP/HAP granules loaded with rhBMP-2 exhibited both osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. This opens perspective for coating these bioactive PEM on other types of implantable materials, including metal alloy that do not exhibit any affinity for rhBMP-2.