A novel magnetic bifunctional nanocomposite scaffold for photothermal therapy and tissue engineering

In recent years, porous bifunctional scaffolds with hyperthermal and tissue regeneration functions play an essential role in the efficient cancerous bone tumors treatment. In this work, the nanocomposite scaffolds of gelatin (polymer phase) and akermanite (ceramic phase) were prepared by entrapping carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) and embedding magnetic nanoparticles of iron oxide into the porous matrix as photothermal conversion agents. The obtained scaffolds and their components were characterized using FTIR, FESEM, TEM, EDS, DLS, and VSM analysis. The mechanical properties of the prepared scaffolds were also investigated. The swelling behavior of the scaffolds in PBS as well as biodegradation and protein adsorption capability were evaluated. The addition of nanoparticles into the gelatin/akermanite matrix efficiently increased the adsorption of bovine serum albumin on the surface of the composite scaffold and contrarily decreased its degradation rate in the presence of lysozyme. The prepared scaffolds exhibited a high photothermal performance using NIR laser with different power intensity and irradiation time. Finally, the biocompatibility of the scaffold was confirmed using G292 osteoblastic cells through MTT assays. It can therefore be concluded that synthesized scaffolds have a great potential in bone tissue engineering and probably treatment of tumor related bone defects.