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Biological response to pre-mineralized starch based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering
A J Salgado1, J E Figueiredo, O P Coutinho
13B's Research Group, Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. asalgado@dep.uminho.pt
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine
|March 4, 2005
Summary
Biomimetic calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) coatings enhance bone bonding and cell growth on SEVA-C scaffolds. This novel method using sodium silicate gel shows no cytotoxicity and promotes osteoblast differentiation for bone tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Biomineralization
Background:
- Calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) coatings improve polymeric material bone bonding, cell adhesion, and osteoprogenitor cell differentiation.
- A novel biomimetic methodology using sodium silicate gel as a nucleative agent offers an alternative for coating biodegradable porous scaffolds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the influence of a biomimetic Ca-P coating on the mechanical properties of starch/ethylene-vinyl alcohol (SEVA-C) scaffolds.
- To assess the biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of these Ca-P coated scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of SEVA-C scaffolds and subsequent biomimetic Ca-P coating using a sodium silicate gel.
- Mechanical testing (compressive modulus and strength) and cytotoxicity evaluation (ISO/EN 10993-5) using L929 cells.
- Direct contact assays with SaOS-2 cells, including total protein quantification, SEM, MTS viability assays, and analysis of osteogenic markers (osteopontin, collagen type I, ALP activity).
Main Results:
- Ca-P coated SEVA-C scaffolds exhibited a compressive modulus of 224.6 ± 20.6 MPa and compressive strength of 24.2 ± 2.20 MPa.
- Biomimetic treatment showed no cytotoxicity and did not inhibit L929 cell growth.
- SaOS-2 cells successfully grew on the pre-mineralized scaffolds, maintained viability for two weeks, and expressed osteogenic markers (osteopontin, collagen type I).
- Elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in supernatants from pre-mineralized samples suggests accelerated extracellular matrix mineralization.
Conclusions:
- Biomimetic pre-mineralization using sodium silicate gel is a viable and non-cytotoxic method for coating SEVA-C scaffolds.
- The Ca-P coated scaffolds support osteoblast growth, viability, and differentiation, indicating potential for bone tissue engineering.
- This approach offers a promising route for developing advanced biomaterials for bone regeneration applications.