Bioactivity and Bone Cell Formation with Poly-ε-Caprolactone/Bioceramic 3D Porous Scaffolds

Abstract

This study applied poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL), a biomedical ceramic powder as an additive (nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) or β-tricalcium diphosphate (β-TCP)), and sodium chloride (NaCl) and ammonium bicarbonate ((NH4)HCO3) as porogens; these stuffs were used as scaffold materials. An improved solvent-casting/particulate-leaching method was utilized to fabricate 3D porous scaffolds. In this study we examined the physical properties (elastic modulus, porosity, and contact angle) and degradation properties (weight loss and pH value) of the 3D porous scaffolds. Both nHA and β-TCP improved the mechanical properties (elastic modulus) of the 3D porous scaffolds. The elastic modulus (0.15~1.865 GPa) of the various composite scaffolds matched that of human cancellous bone (0.1~4.5 GPa). Osteoblast-like (MG63) cells were cultured, a microculture tetrazolium test (MTT) was conducted and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of the 3D porous scaffolds was determined. Experimental results indicated that both nHA and β-TCP powder improved the hydrophilic properties of the scaffolds. The degradation rate of the scaffolds was accelerated by adding nHA or β-TCP. The MTT and ALP activity tests indicated that the scaffolds with a high ratio of nHA or β-TCP had excellent properties of in vitro biocompatibility (cell attachment and proliferation).

Magnesium surface-activated 3D printed porous PEEK scaffolds for in vivo osseointegration by promoting angiogenesis and osteogenesis

“…1 B. The compression modulus of porous PEEK scaffolds in the X-axis and Z-axis directions were 376 ± 17 MPa and 407 ± 25 MPa, respectively, which were similar to the modulus of cancellous bone (0.1–4.5 GPa [ 30 ]). The compression modulus of the PEEK blocks was 1183 ± 74 MPa.…”

Fabrication of Solvent-Free PCL/β-TCP Composite Fiber for 3D Printing: Physiochemical and Biological Investigation

“…Cell viability increased proportionally with the addition of β-TCP, a finding similar to results by Bruyas et al who proposed that increased β-TCP could increase surface roughness which facilitates cell growth [ 46 ]. Juan et al demonstrated that MG-63 cells cultured with PCL/β-TCP had better cell proliferation and ALPase activity compared to PCL/HAP and PCL/HAP/β-TCP [ 51 ]. Bruyas et al and Shim et al have also shown that the addition of β-TCP composite could induce cellular alkaline phosphatase secretion and mineralization [ 39 , 46 ].…”

Nano-Hydroxyapatite Composite Scaffolds Loaded with Bioactive Factors and Drugs for Bone Tissue Engineering

“…However, its low biological activity, hydrophobicity and poor mechanical properties limit its application in bone tissue engineering [ 72 , 73 ]. In order to improve the mechanical properties of PCL, Juan et al added n-HAp to the PCL matrix to form a three-dimensional porous composite scaffold with an elastic modulus of 0.401–1.005 GPa, within the range of elastic modulus of human cancellous bone (0.1– 4.5 GPa) [ 74 , 75 ]. The degradation rate of the bone tissue engineering scaffold should match the bone formation rate [ 76 ].…”