Embroidered and surface modified polycaprolactone-co-lactide scaffolds as bone substitute: in vitro characterization

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Bone tissue engineering requires scaffolds that support cell activity and bone formation.
• Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polymer with potential for bone regeneration.
• Surface modification and biomolecule coating can improve scaffold performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an embroidered PCL scaffold modified with NaOH, collagen I (coll I), and chondroitin sulfate (CS) for bone tissue engineering.
• To investigate the effects of surface modifications and biomolecule coatings on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) behavior.
• To assess the scaffold's potential as a bioartificial bone substitute.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of embroidered PCL scaffolds with controlled porosity (80%) and pore size (0.2-1 mm).
• Surface hydrolysis of PCL scaffolds using NaOH to enhance hydrophilicity.
• Coating of scaffolds with collagen I and chondroitin sulfate.
• Evaluation of cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs on the modified scaffolds.

Main Results:

• NaOH treatment increased surface hydrophilicity (water contact angle to 25%) and enhanced collagen I adsorption (up to 15%) and cell attachment (2x).
• Collagen I coating significantly improved hMSC attachment and proliferation (3x).
• Chondroitin sulfate induced osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs without additional additives.
• The modified scaffolds demonstrated suitability for cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation.

Conclusions:

• The modified PCL scaffold effectively supports hMSC adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation.
• Surface functionalization with collagen I and chondroitin sulfate is crucial for enhancing biological responses.
• These scaffolds show significant promise as bioartificial bone substitutes for bone regeneration applications.