Fabrication and characterization of bioactive β-Ca2SiO4/PHBV composite scaffolds

A key challenge in tissue engineering is the construction of a scaffold with adequate properties which would mimic extracellular matrix (ECM) to induce the cells' efficient adhesion, proliferation and proper differentiation. Novel β-Ca2SiO4/PHBV composite scaffolds were fabricated by integrating β-Ca2SiO4 nanoparticles with PHBV backbone via a modified solvent casting-particulates leaching method, which generates interconnected porous structure and the high porosity, about 87%, of these scaffolds. Compared with PHBV scaffolds, β-Ca2SiO4/PHBV composite scaffolds facilitate the adhesion of human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells due to their increased hydrophilicity. The β-Ca2SiO4/PHBV composite scaffolds containing 2.5 or 5% β-Ca2SiO4 nanoparticles significantly enhance the proliferation of MG-63 cells by stimulating the transcription of the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) genes. These scaffolds also induce early differentiation via promoting the transcription of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The results suggest the potential application of β-Ca2SiO4/PHBV composites in bone tissue engineering.