Development of an osteoconductive PCL–PDIPF–hydroxyapatite composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering

• Autores: Fernández, Juan Manuel; Molinuevo, M. Silvina; Cortizo, María Susana; Cortizo, Ana María
• Año de publicación: 2011
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Ciencias Químicas; bone tissue engineering; biocompatibility; poly-ε-caprolactone; polydialkyl fumarates; hydroxyapatite; osteoblasts
• Institución: Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

Hydroxyapatite (HAP)-containing poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL)–polydiisopropyl fumarate (PDIPF) composite (Blend) was developed as an alternative for bone tissue engineering. The physicochemical, mechanical and biocompatibility properties of these composites were evaluated using two osteoblast-like cell lines (UMR106 and MC3T3E1) and compared with the blend without HAP and PCL/HAP films. The increment in the elastic modulus and the decrease in the elongationat- break of Blend–HAP suggest that the mechanical properties of the HAP scaffolds have improved significantly. The addition of HAP to both PCL and Blend significantly improves the cell biocompatibility and osteogenicity of the scaffolds. Evidence for this notion is based in several observations: (a) HAP–polymer increases proliferation of osteoblastic cells; (b) HAP included in the blend increases the ALP expression in UMR106 cells; (c) HAP–Blend increases the type-I collagen production in both cell lines, and d) higher levels of the osteogenic transcription factor Runx-2 were detected when MC3T3E1 osteoblasts were induced to differentiate and mineralize on HAP–polymer scaffolds. In conclusion, a novel biocompatible HAP–Blend composite with uniform dispersion of semi-nano HAP particles and good interphase compatibility has been prepared successfully. The development of HAP–Blend composite, with improved physical, mechanical and osteoinductive properties, may potentially be used in bone tissue-engineering applications.