AbstractAimThe local delivery of growth factors via gene therapy has gained tremendous awareness in recent years due to their sustained growth factor delivery to target tissues. The aim of this study was to fabricate and investigate a scaffold able to release growth factors via gene therapy for the repair of periodontal tissues.Materials and MethodsNovel mesoporous bioglass (MBG)/silk fibrin scaffold combined with BMP7 and/or PDGF‐B adenovirus was fabricated and tested in vitro for cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, acute‐type buccal dehiscence periodontal defects (mesiodistal width × depth: 5 × 5 mm) were created on the buccal portion of the maxillary premolars in five normal male beagle dogs (12 months old, 15.0 ± 2.0 kg) and histologically examined for periodontal regeneration following implantation of the following five groups: (1) no scaffold, (2) MBG/silk scaffold alone, (3) scaffold + adPDGF‐B, (4) scaffold + adBMP7, (5) scaffold + adPDGF‐b + adBMP7.ResultsIn vitro findings demonstrated that adPDGF‐B was able to rapidly recruit periodontal ligament (PDL) cells over sixfold more effectively than adBMP7, whereas adBMP7 was more able to induce osteoblast differentiation of PDL cells. In vivo findings demonstrate that scaffolds loaded with adPDGF‐B were able to partially regenerate the periodontal ligament while adBMP7 scaffolds primarily improved new bone formation. The combination of both adPDGF‐B and adBMP7 synergistically promoted periodontal regeneration by allowing up to two times greater regeneration of the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and cementum when compared to each adenovirus used alone.ConclusionsAlthough both PDGF‐B and BMP7 are individually capable of promoting periodontal regeneration to some degree, their combination synergistically promotes wound healing in acute‐type buccal dehiscence periodontal defects when delivered simultaneously. This study demonstrates the promise for successful delivery of low‐cost, effective growth factor delivery via gene therapy for the treatment of periodontal defects.