Antibacterial 45S5 Bioglass®-based scaffolds reinforced with genipin cross-linked gelatin for bone tissue engineering

45S5 Bioglass® (BG) scaffolds with high porosity (>90%) were coated with genipin cross-linked gelatin (GCG) and further incorporated with poly(p-xylyleneguanidine) hydrochloride (PPXG). The obtained GCG coated scaffolds maintained the high porosity and well interconnected pore structure. A 26-fold higher compressive strength was provided to 45S5 BG scaffolds by GCG coating, which slightly retarded but did not inhibit the in vitro bioactivity of 45S5 BG scaffolds in SBF. Moreover, the scaffolds were made antibacterial against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by using polyguanidine, i.e. PPXG, in this study. Osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) were seeded onto PPXG and GCG coated scaffolds. PPXG was biocompatible with MG-63 cells at a low concentration (10 μg mL^-1). MG-63 cells were shown to attach and spread on both uncoated and GCG coated scaffolds, and the mitochondrial activity measurement indicated that GCG coating had no negative influence on the cell proliferation behavior of MG-63 cells. The developed novel antibacterial bioactive 45S5 BG-based composite scaffolds with improved mechanical properties are promising candidates for bone tissue engineering.