Magnesium-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds:A novel frontier in bone tissue engineering

Nonunion represents a crucial challenge in orthopedic medicine,demanding innovative solutions beyond the scope of traditional bone grafting methods.Among the various strategies available,magnesium(Mg)implants have been recognized for their biocompatibility and biodegradability.However,their susceptibility to rapid corrosion and degradation has garnered notable research interest in bone tissue engineering(BTE),particularly in the development of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds.These scaffolds gradually release Mg2+,which enhances immunomodulation,osteogenesis,and angiogenesis,thus facilitating effective bone regeneration.This review presents myriad fabrication techniques used to create Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds,including electrospinning,three-dimensional printing,and sol-gel synthesis.Despite these advancements,the application of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds faces challenges such as controlling the degradation rate of Mg and ensuring mechanical stability.These limitations highlight the necessity for ongoing research aimed at refining fabrication techniques to better regulate the physicochemical and osteogenic properties of scaffolds.This review provides insights into the potential of Mg-incorporated biocomposite scaffolds for BTE and the challenges that need to be addressed for their successful translation into clinical applications.

In vitro investigations on the effects of graphene and graphene oxide on polycaprolactone bone tissue engineering scaffolds

Polycaprolactone(PCL)scaffolds that are produced through additive manufacturing are one of the most researched bone tissue engineering structures in the field.Due to the intrinsic limitations of PCL,carbon nanomaterials are often investigated to reinforce the PCL scaffolds.Despite several studies that have been conducted on carbon nanomaterials,such as graphene(G)and graphene oxide(GO),certain challenges remain in terms of the precise design of the biological and nonbiological properties of the scaffolds.This paper addresses this limitation by investigating both the nonbiological(element composition,surface,degradation,and thermal and mechanical properties)and biological characteristics of carbon nanomaterial-reinforced PCL scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.Results showed that the incorporation of G and GO increased surface properties(reduced modulus and wettability),material crystallinity,crystallization temperature,and degradation rate.However,the variations in compressive modulus,strength,surface hardness,and cell metabolic activity strongly depended on the type of reinforcement.Finally,a series of phenomenological models were developed based on experimental results to describe the variations of scaffold’s weight,fiber diameter,porosity,and mechanical properties as functions of degradation time and carbon nanomaterial concentrations.The results presented in this paper enable the design of three-dimensional(3D)bone scaffolds with tuned properties by adjusting the type and concentration of different functional fillers.

The fabrication of hydroxyapatite mineralized hydrogels for bone tissue engineering

Bone is a complex but orderly mineralized tissue with hydroxyapatite(HA)as the inorganic phase and collagen as the organic phase.Inspired by natural bone tissues,HA-mineralized hydrogels have been widely designed and used in bone tissue engineering.HA is majorly utilized for the treatment of bone defects because of its excellent osteoconduction and bone inductivity.Hydrogel is a three-dimensional hydrophilic network structure with similar properties to the extracellular matrix(ECM).The combination of HA and hydrogels produces a new hybrid material that could effectively promote osteointegration and accelerate the healing of bone defects.In this review,the structure and growth of bone and the common strategies used to prepare HA were briefly introduced.Importantly,we discussed the fabrication of HA mineralized hydrogels from simple blending to in situ mineralization.We hope this review can provide a reference for the development of bone repair hydrogels.

Bone Regeneration Based on Tissue Engineering Conceptions – A 21st Century Perspective

The role of Bone Tissue Engineering in the field of Regenerative Medicine has been the topic of substantial research over the past two decades. Technological advances have improved orthopaedic implants and surgical techniques for bone reconstruction. However, improvements in surgical techniques to reconstruct bone have been limited by the paucity of autologous materials available and donor site morbidity. Recent advances in the development of biomaterials have provided attractive alternatives to bone grafting expanding the surgical options for restoring the form and function of injured bone. Specifically, novel bioactive （second generation） biomaterials have been developed that are characterised by controlled action and reaction to the host tissue environment, whilst exhibiting controlled chemical breakdown and resorption with an ultimate replacement by regenerating tissue. Future generations of biomaterials （third generation） are designed to be not only osteo- conductive but also osteoinductive, i.e. to stimulate regeneration of host tissues by combining tissue engineer- ing and in situ tissue regeneration methods with a focus on novel applications. These techniques will lead to novel possibilities for tissue regeneration and repair. At present, tissue engineered constructs that may find future use as bone grafts for complex skeletal defects, whether from post-traumatic, degenerative, neoplastic or congenital/developmental ＂origin＂ require osseous reconstruction to ensure structural and functional integrity. Engineering functional bone using combinations of cells, scaffolds and bioactive factors is a promising strategy and a particular feature for future development in the area of hybrid materials which are able to exhibit suitable biomimetic and mechanical properties. This review will discuss the state of the art in this field and what we can expect from future generations of bone regeneration concepts.

Study on β-TCP Coated Porous Mg as a Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffold Material

Three-dimensional honeycomb-structured magnesium （Mg） scaffolds with interconnected pores of accurately controlled pore size and porosity were fabricated by laser perforation technique. Biodegradable and bioactiveβ- tricalcium phosphate （β-TCP） coatings were prepared on and the biodegradation mechanism was simply evaluated the porous Mg to further improve its biocompatibility, in vitro. It was found that the mechanical properties of this type of porous Mg significantly depended on its porosity. Elastic modulus and compressive strength similar to human bones could be obtained for the porous Mg with porosity of 42.6%-51%. It was observed that the human osteosarcoma cells （UMR106） were well adhered and proliferated on the surface of the β- TCP coated porous Mg, which indicates that theβ-TCP coated porous Mg is promising to be a bone tissue engineering scaffold material.

Biologically Inspired Self-assembling Synthesis of Bone-like Nano-hydroxyapatite/PLGA-(PEG-ASP)_n Composite: A New Biomimetic Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffold Material

A new biomimetic bone tissue engineering scaffold material, nano-HAI PLGA-（ PEG-Asp ）n composite, was synthesized by a biologically inspired self-assembling approach. A novel biodegradable PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ）n copolymer with pendant amine functional groups and enhanced hydrophilicity woo synthesized by bulk ring-opening copolymerization by DL-lactide（ DLLA） and glycolide（ GA ） with Aspartic acid （ Asp ）-Polyethylene glycol（PEG） alt-prepolymer. A Three-dimensional, porous scaffold of the PLGA-（ PEG- Asp）n copolymer was fabricated by a solvent casting , particulate leaching process. The scaffold woo then incubated in modified simulated body fluid （naSBF）. Growth of HA nanocrystals on the inner pore surfaces of the porous scaffold is confirmed by calcium ion binding analyses, SEM , mass increooe meoourements and quantification of phosphate content within scaffolds. SEM analysis demonstrated the nucleation and growth of a continuous bonelike, low crystalline carbonated HA nanocrystals on the inner pore surfaces of the PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ）n scaffolds. The amount of calcium binding, total mass and the mass of phosphate on experimental PLGA- （ PEG-Asp ） n scaffolds at different incubation times in mSBF was significantly greater than that of control PLGA scaffolds. This nano-HA/ PLGA-（ PEG- Asp ）n composite stunts some features of natural bone both in main composition and hierarchical microstrueture. The Asp- PEG alt-prepolymer modified PleA copolymer provide a controllable high surface density and distribution of anionic functional groups which would enhance nucleation and growth of bonelike mineral following exposure to mSBF. This biomimetic treatment provides a simple method for surface functionalization and sabsequent mineral nucleation and self-oosembling on bodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Experimental Study on Allogenic Decalcified Bone Matrix as Carrier for Bone Tissue Engineering

The biocompatibility and osteogenic activity of allogenic decalcified bone matrix (DBM) used as a carrier for bone tissue engineering were studied. Following the method described by Urist, allogenic DBM was made. In vitro, DBM and bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) from rabbits were co-cultured for 3-7 days and subjected to HE staining, and a series of histomorphological observations were performed under phase-contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vivo the mixture of DBM/BMSC co-cultured for 3 days was planted into one side of muscules sacrospinalis of rabbits, and the DBM without BMSC was planted into other side as control. Specimens were collected at postoperative week 1, 2 and 4, and subjected to HE staining, and observed under SEM. The results showed during culture in vitro, the BMSCs adherent to the wall of DBM grew, proliferated and had secretive activity. The in vivo experiment revealed that BMSCs and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in the perivascular region invaded gradually and proliferated together in DBM/BMSC group, and colony-forming units of chondrocytes were found. Osteoblasts, trabecular bone and medullary cavity appeared. The inflammatory reaction around muscles almost disappeared at the second weeks. In pure DBM group, the similar changes appeared from the surface of the DBM to center, and the volume of total regenerate bones was less than the DBM/BMSC group at the same time. The results indicated that the mixture of DBM and BMSC had good biocompatibility and ectopic induced osteogenic activity.

Application of platelet-rich plasma with stem cells in bone and periodontal tissue engineering

Presently, there is a high paucity of bone grafts in the United States and worldwide. Regenerating bone is of prime concern due to the current demand of bone grafts and the increasing number of diseases causing bone loss. Autogenous bone is the present gold standard of bone regeneration. However, disadvantages like donor site morbidity and its decreased availability limit its use. Even allografts and synthetic grafting materials have their own limitations. As certain specific stem cells can be directed to differentiate into an osteoblastic lineage in the presence of growth factors(GFs), it makes stem cells the ideal agents for bone regeneration.Furthermore, platelet-rich plasma(PRP), which can be easily isolated from whole blood, is often used for bone regeneration, wound healing and bone defect repair. When stem cells are combined with PRP in the presence of GFs, they are able to promote osteogenesis. This review provides in-depth knowledge regarding the use of stem cells and PRP in vitro, in vivo and their application in clinical studies in the future.

Bone tissue engineering via nanostructured calcium phosphate biomaterials and stem cells

Tissue engineering is promising to meet the increasing need for bone regeneration. Nanostructured calcium phosphate （CAP） biomaterials/scaffolds are of special interest as they share chemical/crystallographic similarities to inorganic components of bone. Three applications of nano-CaP are discussed in this review： nanostructured calcium phosphate cement （CPC）; nano-CaP composites; and nano-CaP coatings. The interactions between stem cells and nano-CaP are highlighted, including cell attachment, orientation/ morphology, differentiation and in vivo bone regeneration. Several trends can be seen： （i） nano-CaP biomaterials support stem cell attachment/proliferation and induce osteogenic differentiation, in some cases even without osteogenic supplements; （ii） the influence of nano-CaP surface patterns on cell alignment is not prominent due to non-uniform distribution of nano-crystals; （iii） nano-CaP can achieve better bone regeneration than conventional CaP biomaterials; （iv） combining stem cells with nano-CaP accelerates bone regeneration, the effect of which can be further enhanced by growth factors; and （v） cell microencapsulation in nano-CaP scaffolds is promising for bone tissue engineering. These understandings would help researchers to further uncover the underlying mechanisms and interactions in nano-CaP stem cell constructs in vitro and in vivo, tailor nano-CaP composite construct design and stem cell type selection to enhance cell function and bone regeneration, and translate laboratory findings to clinical treatments.

Exploring the interconnectivity of biomimetic hierarchical porous Mg scaffolds for bone tissue engineering:Effects of pore size distribution on mechanical properties,degradation behavior and cell migration ability

Interconnectivity is the key characteristic of bone tissue engineering scaffold modulating cell migration,blood vessels invasion and transport of nutrient and waste.However,efforts and understanding of the interconnectivity of porous Mg is limited due to the diverse architectures of pore struts and pore size distribution of Mg scaffold systems.In this work,biomimetic hierarchical porous Mg scaffolds with tailored interconnectivity as well as pore size distribution were prepared by template replication of infiltration casting.Mg scaffold with better interconnectivity showed lower mechanical strength.Enlarging interconnected pores would enhance the interconnectivity of the whole scaffold and reduce the change of ion concentration,pH value and osmolality of the degradation microenvironment due to the lower specific surface area.Nevertheless,the degradation rates of five tested Mg scaffolds were no different because of the same geometry of strut unit.Direct cell culture and evaluation of cell density at both sides of four typical Mg scaffolds indicated that cell migration through hierarchical porous Mg scaffolds could be enhanced by not only bigger interconnected pore size but also larger main pore size.In summary,design of interconnectivity in terms of pore size distribution could regulate mechanical strength,microenvironment in cell culture condition and cell migration potential,and beyond that it shows great potential for personalized therapy which could facilitate the regeneration process.

3D Nanocomposite Hydrogel Scaffolds Fabricated by Rapid Prototyping for Bone Tissue Engineering

Colloidal gels made of oppositely charged nanoparticles are a novel class of hydrogels and can exhibit pseudoplastic behavior which will enable them to mold easily into specific shapes.These moldable gels can be used as building blocks to self-assemble into integral scaffolds from bottom to up through electrostatic forces.However,they are too weak to maintain scaffold morphology just depending on interparticle interactions such as Van der Waals attraction and electrostatic forces especially for bone tissue engineering.In this study,oppositely charged gelatin nanoparticles were firstly prepared by two-step desolvation method,followed by the mixture with water to form colloid gels.To solve the problem of weak mechanical performance of colloid gels, gelatin macromolecules were introduced into the prepared gels to form blend gels.The blend gels can be easily processed into three-dimensional( 3D) porous scaffolds via motor assisted microsyringe( MAM)system,a nozzle-based rapid prototyping technology,under mild conditions.After fabrication the scaffolds were crosslinked by glutaraldehyde( GA,25% solution in water by weight),then the crosslinked gelatin macromolecules network could form to improve the mechanical properties of colloid gels.The average particle size and zeta potential of gelatin nanoparticles were measured by NanoZS instrument.The morphology and microstructures of scaffolds were characterized by macroscopic images.The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were studied by a universal material testing machine.

Reduced graphene oxide-grafted bovine serum albumin/bredigite nanocomposites with high mechanical properties and excellent osteogenic bioactivity for bone tissue engineering

The optimization of the scaffolds to provide a suitable matrix and accelerate the regeneration process is vital for bone tissue engineering.However,poor mechanical and biological characteristics remain the primary challenges that must be addressed.For example,although bredigite(Br)has shown great potential for application in bone tissue engineering,it easily fails in replacement.In the present work,these challenges are addressed by reinforcing the Br matrix with nanosheets of graphene oxide(rGO)that have been reduced by bovine serum albumin(BSA)in order to enhance the mechanical properties and biological behavior.The reduction of graphene oxide by BSA improves the water stability of the nanosheets and provides an electrostatic interaction between theBSA-rGO nanosheets and theBr particles.The high thermal conductivity of theBSA-rGO nanosheets decreases the porosity of the Br by transferring heat to the core of the tablet.Furthermore,the addition of BSA-rGO nanosheets into the Br matrix enhances the adhesion of G-292 cells on the surface of the tablets.These findings suggest that the tablet consisting of BSA-rGO-reinforced Br has encouraging potential for application in bone tissue engineering.

Oxysterols as promising small molecules for bone tissue engineering: Systematic review

BACKGROUND Bone tissue engineering is an area of continued interest within orthopaedic surgery,as it promises to create implantable bone substitute materials that obviate the need for autologous bone graft.Recently,oxysterols–oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol-have been proposed as a novel class of osteoinductive small molecules for bone tissue engineering.Here,we present the first systematic review of the in vivo evidence describing the potential therapeutic utility of oxysterols for bone tissue engineering.AIM To systematically review the available literature examining the effect of oxysterols on in vivo bone formation.METHODS We conducted a systematic review of the literature following PRISMA guidelines.Using the PubMed/MEDLINE,Embase,and Web of Science databases,we queried all publications in the English-language literature investigating the effect of oxysterols on in vivo bone formation.Articles were screened for eligibility using PICOS criteria and assessed for potential bias using an expanded version of the SYRCLE Risk of Bias assessment tool.All full-text articles examining the effect of oxysterols on in vivo bone formation were included.Extracted data included:Animal species,surgical/defect model,description of therapeutic and control treatments,and method for assessing bone growth.Primary outcome was fusion rate for spinal fusion models and percent bone regeneration for critical-sized defect models.Data were tabulated and described by both surgical/defect model and oxysterol employed.Additionally,data from all included studies were aggregated to posit the mechanism by which oxysterols may mediate in vivo bone formation.RESULTS Our search identified 267 unique articles,of which 27 underwent full-text review.Thirteen studies(all preclinical)met our inclusion/exclusion criteria.Of the 13 included studies,5 employed spinal fusion models,2 employed critical-sized alveolar defect models,and 6 employed critical-sized calvarial defect models.Based upon SYRCLE criteria,the included studies were found to possess an overall“unclear risk of bias”;54%of studies reported treatment randomization and 38%reported blinding at any level.Overall,seven unique oxysterols were evaluated:20(S)-hydroxycholesterol,22(R)-hydroxycholesterol,22(S)-hydroxycholesterol,Oxy4/Oxy34,Oxy18,Oxy21/Oxy133,and Oxy49.All had statistically significant in vivo osteoinductive properties,with Oxy4/Oxy34,Oxy21/Oxy133,and Oxy49 showing a dose-dependent effect in some cases.In the eight studies that directly compared oxysterols to rhBMP-2-treated animals,similar rates of bone growth occurred in the two groups.Biochemical investigation of these effects suggests that they may be primarily mediated by direct activation of Smoothened in the Hedgehog signaling pathway.CONCLUSION Present preclinical evidence suggests oxysterols significantly augment in vivo bone formation.However,clinical trials are necessary to determine which have the greatest therapeutic potential for orthopaedic surgery patients.

3D-printed Mg-1Ca/polycaprolactone composite scaffolds with promoted bone regeneration

In bone tissue engineering,polycaprolactone(PCL)is a promising material with good biocompatibility,but its poor degradation rate,mechanical strength,and osteogenic properties limit its application.In this study,we developed an Mg-1Ca/polycaprolactone(Mg-1Ca/PCL)composite scaffolds to overcome these limitations.We used a melt blending method to prepare Mg-1Ca/PCL composites with Mg-1Ca alloy powder mass ratios of 5,10,and 20 wt%.Porous scaffolds with controlled macro-and microstructure were printed using the fused deposition modeling method.We explored the mechanical strength,biocompatibility,osteogenesis performance,and molecular mechanism of the Mg-1Ca/PCL composites.The 5 and 10 wt%Mg-1Ca/PCL composites were found to have good biocompatibility.Moreover,they promoted the mechanical strength,proliferation,adhesion,and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells(hBMSCs)of pure PCL.In vitro degradation experiments revealed that the composite material stably released Mg_(2)+ions for a long period;it formed an apatite layer on the surface of the scaffold that facilitated cell adhesion and growth.Microcomputed tomography and histological analysis showed that both 5 and 10 wt%Mg-1Ca/PCL composite scaffolds promoted bone regeneration bone defects.Our results indicated that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was involved in the osteogenic effect.Therefore,Mg-1Ca/PCL composite scaffolds are expected to be a promising bone regeneration material for clinical application.Statement of significance:Bone tissue engineering scaffolds have promising applications in the regeneration of critical-sized bone defects.However,there remain many limitations in the materials and manufacturing methods used to fabricate scaffolds.This study shows that the developed Ma-1Ca/PCL composites provides scaffolds with suitable degradation rates and enhanced boneformation capabilities.Furthermore,the fused deposition modeling method allows precise control of the macroscopic morphology and microscopic porosity of the scaffold.The obtained porous scaffolds can significantly promote the regeneration of bone defects.

Design and Preparation of Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds with Porous Controllable Structure

A novel method of designing and preparing bone tissue engineering scaffolds with controllable porous structure of both macro channels and micro pores was proposed. The CAD software UG NX3.0 was used to design the macro channels＇ shape, size and distribution. By integrating rapid prototyping and traditional porogen technique, the macro channels and micro pores were formed respectively. The size, shape and quantity of micro pores were controlled by porogen particulates. The sintered β-TCP porous scaffolds possessed connective macro channels of approximately 500 μm and micro pores of 200-400 μm. The porosity and connectivity of micro pores became higher with the increase of porogen ratio, while the mechanical properties weakened. The average porosity and compressive strength offl-TCP scaffolds prepared with porogen ratio of 60wt% were 78.12% and 0.2983 MPa, respectively. The cells＇ adhesion ratio of scaffolds was 67.43%. The ALP activity, OCN content and cells micro morphology indicated that cells grew and proliferated well on the scaffolds.

Morphological Evaluation of PLA/Soybean Oil Epoxidized Acrylate Three-Dimensional Scaffold in Bone Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering’s main goal is to regenerate or replace tissues or organs that have been destroyed by disease,injury,or congenital disabilities.Tissue engineering now uses artificial supporting structures called scaffolds to restore damaged tissues and organs.These are utilized to attach the right cells and then grow them.Rapid prototyping appears to be the most promising technology due to its high level of precision and control.Bone tissue replacement“scaffolding”is a common theme discussed in this article.The fused deposition technique was used to construct our scaffold,and a polymer called polylactic acids and soybean oil resin were used to construct our samples.The samples were then divided into two groups;the first group was left without immersion in the simulated body fluid and served as a control for comparison.The second group was immersed in the simulated body fluid.The results of the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope(FESEM),Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy(EDX)and X-ray diffraction(XRD)were utilized to interpret the surface attachment to ions,elements,and compounds,giving us a new perspective on scaffold architecture.In this study,an innovative method has been used to print therapeutic scaffold that combines fused deposition three-dimensional printing with ultraviolet curing to create a high-quality biodegradable polymeric scaffold.Finally,the results demonstrate that adding soybean oil resin to the PLA increased ion attachment to the surface while also attracting tricalcium phosphate formation on the surface of the scaffold,which is highly promising in bone tissue replacement.In conclusion,the soybean oil resin,which is new in the field of bone tissue engineering,shows magnificent characteristics and is a good replacement biopolymer that replaces many ceramic and polymeric materials used in this field that have poor morphological characteristics.

Wnt3a-induced ST2 decellularized matrix ornamented PCL scaffold for bone tissue engineering

The limited bioactivity of scaffold materials is an important factor that restricts the development of bone tissue engineering.Wnt3a activates the classicWnt/β-catenin signaling pathway which effects bone growth and development by the accumulation ofβ-catenin in the nucleus.In this study,we fabricated 3D printed PCL scaffold with Wnt3a-induced murine bone marrow-derived stromal cell line ST2 decellularized matrix(Wnt3a-ST2-dCM-PCL)and ST2 decellularized matrix(ST2-dCM-PCL)by freeze-thaw cycle and DNase decellularization treatment which efficiently decellularized>90%DNA while preserved most protein.Compared to ST2-dCM-PCL,Wnt3a-ST2-dCM-PCL significantly enhanced newly-seeded ST2 proliferation,osteogenic differentiation and upregulated osteogenic marker genes alkaline phosphatase(Alp),Runx2,type I collagen(Col 1)and osteocalcin(Ocn)mRNA expression.After 14 days of osteogenic induction,Wnt3a-ST2-dCM-PCL promoted ST2 mineralization.These results demonstrated that Wnt3a-induced ST2 decellularized matrix improve scaffold materials’osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity.

Strontium Substituted Nanohydroxyapatite Incorporated 3D Printing Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering

The customized implants which are composed of polycaprolactone( PCL) and strontium substituted nanohydroxyapatite( SrHA) were fabricated successfully by using fused deposition modeling( FDM),which is a simple 3 D printing technology for fabricating personalized products. The physical and chemical properties of composite scaffolds were characterized by transmission electron microscopy( TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy( FTIR), X-Ray diffraction( XRD) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy( ICPAES). The results suggested that strontium element was successfully doped into nanohydroxyapatite and all scaffolds showed the homogeneous network structure. Furthermore, the in vitro biocompatibility of the scaffolds was evaluated by cell counting kit-8( CCK-8) assay. The data indicated that the prepared scaffolds exhibited excellent biocompatibility to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells( BMSCs). Besides,strontium element can be released from PCL-SrHA scaffolds in a sustained manner. Therefore,the 3 D printing PCL-SrHA scaffolds hold great potential for bone tissue engineering.

Dexamethasone-Loaded PLGA Microspheres Incorporated PLLA/PLGA/PCL Composite Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering

The combination of micro-carriers and polymer scaffolds as promising bone grafts have attracted considerable interest in recent decades.The poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/polycaprolactone(PLLA/PLGA/PCL)composite scaffold with porous structure was fabricated by thermally induced phase separation(TIPS).Dexamethasone(DEX)was incorporated into PLGA microspheres and then loaded on the PLLA/PLGA/PCL scaffoldtopreparethedesiredcompositescaffold.The physicochemical properties of the prepared composite scaffold were characterized.The morphology of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)grown on scaffolds was observed using scanning electron microscope(SEM)and fluorescence microscope.The resultsshowedthatthePLLA/PLGA/PCLscaffoldhad interconnected macropores and biomimetic nanofibrous structure.In addition,DEX can be released from scaffold in a sustained manner.More importantly,DEX loaded composite scaffold can effectively support the proliferation of BMSCs as indicated by fluorescence observation and cell proliferation assay.The results suggested that the prepared PLLA/PLGA/PCL composite scaffold incorporating drug-loaded PLGA microspheres could hold great potential for bone tissue engineering applications.