Biological performance of hydroxyapatite-biopolymer foams: in vitro cell response

Uncoated and biopolymer-coated nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) macroporous foams are presented as promising candidates as scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration. To this end, foam degradability, the cytotoxic effects on osteoblast-like cells of foam degradation by-products and biocompatibility with osteoblast-like cells were assayed on the three-dimensional (3-D) foam surface. The results show that the 3-D interconnected architectural design of these HA foams allows excellent osteoblast internalization, proliferation and differentiation, exhibiting adequate colonization over the entire scaffold surface with an appropriate degradation rate without any cytotoxic effects.