OBJECTIVETo investigate the practicability of periosteum construction in vitro by small intestinal submucosa (SIS) as a tissue scaffold with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC).

METHODSThe bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultivated by the conventional method in vitro, and then co-cultivated with SIS. The morphological feature of the complex material, the extracellular matrices, the adhesion and proliferation of BMSC were observed by optical microscope, electronic microscope, scanning electronic microscope and histologic evaluation respectively.

RESULTSBMSCs adhered and proliferated on SIS, secreted a great deal of extracellular matrices with active cellular function. BMSCs grew well there in layers, and the thickness became thicker as time passed, acting like a biological periosteum.

CONCLUSIONCombined culture of SIS and BMSC in vitro can construct a tissue engineering periosteum similar to the natural one, thus providing a base for further study of its osteogenic regeneration in vivo.