The periosteum, a highly vascularized thin tissue, possesses excellent osteogenic and bone regenerative abilities. This study utilized a bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)-loaded scaffold to create periosteum-like tissue (PT) *in vivo*, mimicking mesenchymal condensation during long bone development. BMP-2-induced endochondral ossification proved crucial for PT construction. The generated PTs exhibited a periosteum-like architecture with abundant periosteum-like tissue-derived cells (PTDCs), blood vessels, and osteochondral progenitor cells. Adding chondroitin sulfate (CS) further enhanced PTDC abundance and function, improving regenerative capacity, even in older mice. This biomimetic strategy holds promise for clinical translation.

Kai Dai, Shunshu Deng, Yuanman Yu, Fuwei Zhu, Jing Wang, Changsheng Liu