Increased osteoblast functions on nanophase titania dispersed in poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid composites

The design of nanophase titania/poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) composites offers an exciting approach to combine the advantages of a degradable polymer with nano-size ceramic grains to optimize physical and biological properties for bone regeneration. Importantly, nanophase titania mimics the size scale of constituent components of bone since it is a nanostructured composite composed of nanometre dimensioned hydroxyapatite well dispersed in a mostly collagen matrix. For these reasons, the objective of the present in vitro study was to investigate osteoblast (bone-forming cell) adhesion and long-term functions on nanophase titania/PLGA composites. Since nanophase titania tended to significantly agglomerate when added to polymers, different sonication output powers were applied in this study to improve titania dispersion. Results demonstrated that the dispersion of titania in PLGA was enhanced by increasing the intensity of sonication and that greater osteoblast adhesion correlated with improved nanophase titania dispersion in PLGA. Moreover, results correlated better osteoblast long-term functions, such as alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium-containing mineral deposition, on nanophase titania/PLGA composites compared to plain PLGA. In fact, the greatest collagen production by osteoblasts occurred when cultured on nanophase titania sonicated in PLGA at the highest powers. In this manner, the present study demonstrates that PLGA composites with well dispersed nanophase titania can enhance osteoblast functions necessary for improved bone tissue engineering applications.