Osteogenic Evaluation of Porous Calcium Phosphate Granules with Drug Delivery System Using Nanoparticle Carriers

Novel porous biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) granules incorporated with drug-releasing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles were developed as a drug delivery platform for bone regeneration. The charge interaction between the BCP and PLGA nanoparticle surfaces was manipulated to create this combination system. Spherical BCP granules with open micro-channels and PLGA nanoparticles loaded with dexamethasone (DEX) as a model drug were fabricated using a liquid nitrogen method and standard emulsion method, respectively. Polyethyleneimine was coated on the DEX-loaded PLGA nanoparticle surfaces, resulting in a net positively charged surface. Such modified nanoparticles were immobilized physically on the negatively charged BCP granule surfaces. An in vitro evaluation of MG 63 cells cultured for 1 and 2 weeks on the BCP granules containing DEX-loaded PLGA nanoparticles showed greater cell proliferation, differentiation, and a more extensively connected-tissue network than those cultured on the BCP granules alone. This innovative platform for bioactive molecule delivery more potently induced osteogenesis in vitro, which might be exploited in implantable bioceramic bone graft materials for stem cell therapy or improved in vivo performance.