Surface biofunctionalization of three-dimensional porous poly(lactic acid) scaffold using chitosan/OGP coating for...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) is a known stimulator of bone formation, enhancing bone cell proliferation and differentiation.
• Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) scaffolds are widely used in tissue engineering but often require surface modification to improve biocompatibility and bioactivity.
• Chitosan (CS) is a biocompatible polymer frequently used in scaffolds for tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare a 3D porous poly(lactic acid) (PLA) scaffold with high porosity.
• To biofunctionalize the PLA scaffold by surface coating with chitosan (CS)/osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) solution for enhanced bone regeneration.
• To investigate the effects of processing parameters on scaffold properties and evaluate the performance of the CS/OGP/PLA scaffold in vitro.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of porous PLA scaffolds using a vacuum-assisted solvent casting, phase separation, solvent extraction, and particle leaching technique from a PLA-dioxane-water ternary system.
• Surface modification of PLA scaffolds via coating with a chitosan (CS)/osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) solution.
• Characterization of scaffold properties including microstructure, water absorption, porosity, hydrophilicity, and mechanical strength.
• Evaluation of cell proliferation and growth on PLA and CS/OGP/PLA scaffolds using osteoblast cell cultures.

Main Results:

• Both PLA and CS/OGP/PLA scaffolds exhibited interconnected network structures with high porosity (up to 96.1% and 91.5%, respectively).
• The CS/OGP/PLA scaffold demonstrated improved hydrophilicity and mechanical properties compared to the uncoated PLA scaffold.
• Cell culture tests confirmed that the CS/OGP coating significantly stimulated the proliferation and growth of osteoblast cells.

Conclusions:

• Surface biofunctionalization of synthetic polymer scaffolds with CS/OGP is an effective strategy to enhance cell adhesion and promote bone regeneration.
• The developed porous CS/OGP/PLA scaffold presents a promising alternative biomaterial for bone tissue engineering applications.
• Optimizing frozen temperatures and PLA concentrations influences scaffold microstructure and properties, impacting their suitability for regenerative medicine.