Polymeric electrospun scaffolds for bone morphogenetic protein 2 delivery in bone tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Biocompatible polymer scaffolds are crucial for bone repair, aiming to mimic the extracellular matrix.
• Scaffolds require osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties for effective bone regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel core-shell scaffolds using polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA).
• To incorporate bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and hydroxyapatite nanorods (HAn) for enhanced osteogenesis.
• To evaluate the in vitro potential of these scaffolds for bone regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneous electrospinning and electrospraying of PCL/PVAc core-shell fibers decorated with BMP2-loaded PLGA particles.
• Loading HAn nanorods into the fiber core.
• Characterization using electron microscopy, FTIR, and TGA.
• In vitro assessment of biodegradation, osteoblast viability, and bone marker expression (ALP, OCN, OPN).

Main Results:

• Homogeneous distribution of PLGA particles and successful incorporation of HAn nanorods (8.8-12.6 wt%).
• Scaffolds supported enhanced cell growth and proliferation.
• Facilitated expression of osteogenic markers (OCN, OPN), highlighting BMP2's role in bone remodeling.

Conclusions:

• The developed scaffolds exhibit significant potential for bone regeneration and clinical applications in tissue engineering.
• The combination of BMP2 and HAn in PCL-based scaffolds promotes osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity.
• These findings underscore the importance of tailored scaffold design for effective bone repair.