Characteristic comparison of bioactive scaffolds based on polyhydroxyalkoanate/bioceramic hybrids

In this study, bioactive hybrid scaffolds were prepared by combining poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate-co-beta-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with three kinds of bioceramics, which are sol-gel bioglass (SGBG), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and hydroxyapatite. The bioactivity and biodegradation of various scaffolds were analyzed with simulated experiments in vitro by immersing the scaffolds into simulated body fluid to evaluate their biomineralizing ability. The changes of the surface components and structures were determined by FTIR, XRD, and SEM analyses. Cell cultures and observation were made in vitro to assess the proliferation of osteoblast on these scaffolds. The results show that there might be ion exchanges and biodegradation reactions occurring between the hybrids and simulated body fluid solution, which result in the weight loss of the scaffolds and the pH changes in solution. An obvious biomineralized deposit layer was formed on the surface of the PHBV/SGBG and PHBV/TCP scaffolds, which was determined to be the bonelike crystalline hydroxyl-carbonate-apatite. The experiments on cell culture show that osteoblast could grow and proliferate on the bioactive hybrid scaffolds.