Effect of the Addition of Inorganic Fillers on the Properties of Degradable Polymeric Blends for Bone Tissue Engineering

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-08, Vol.29 (16), p.3826
• Main Authors: Marecik, Stanisław, Pudełko-Prażuch, Iwona, Balasubramanian, Mareeswari, Ganesan, Sundara Moorthi, Chatterjee, Suvro, Pielichowska, Kinga, Kandaswamy, Ravichandran, Pamuła, Elżbieta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatibility; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biological activity; Bone and Bones - drug effects; Bone Regeneration - drug effects; bone tissue engineering; Bones; Calcium Phosphates - chemistry; Cell Line; Ceramics - chemistry; Chemical bonds; Cold; composite scaffolds; Crystallization; Extracellular matrix; Fumarates - chemistry; Materials Testing; Mechanical properties; Mice; Microstructure; Mineralization; PLA scaffolds; Polyesters - chemistry; Polymer blends; Polymers - chemistry; porous scaffolds; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum analysis; Temperature; Thermogravimetry; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules29163826

Bone tissue exhibits self-healing properties; however, not all defects can be repaired without surgical intervention. Bone tissue engineering offers artificial scaffolds, which can act as a temporary matrix for bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to manufacture scaffolds made of poly(lactic acid), poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(propylene fumarate), and poly(ethylene glycol) modified with bioglass, beta tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and/or wollastonite (W) particles. The scaffolds were fabricated using a gel-casting method and observed with optical and scanning electron microscopes. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), wettability, and degradation tests were conducted. The highest content of TCP without W in the composition caused the highest hydrophilicity (water contact angle of 61.9 ± 6.3°), the fastest degradation rate (7% mass loss within 28 days), moderate ability to precipitate CaP after incubation in PBS, and no cytotoxicity for L929 cells. The highest content of W without TCP caused the highest hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 83.4 ± 1.7°), the lowest thermal stability, slower degradation (3% mass loss within 28 days), and did not evoke CaP precipitation. Moreover, some signs of cytotoxicity on day 1 were observed. The samples with both TCP and W showed moderate properties and the best cytocompatibility on day 4. Interestingly, they were covered with typical cauliflower-like hydroxyapatite deposits after incubation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), which might be a sign of their excellent bioactivity.