Marine plankton exoskeletone-derived hydroxyapatite/polycaprolactone composite 3D scaffold for bone tissue...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Orthopedic Research

Background:

• Biodegradable 3D porous scaffolds are crucial for bone tissue regeneration.
• Polycaprolactone (PCL) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) are commonly used biomaterials.
• Developing advanced scaffolds with enhanced osteoconductivity is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a novel 3D porous scaffold using polycaprolactone (PCL) and marine plankton-derived hydroxyapatite (OceanBone-HAp).
• To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo performance of the PCL/OceanBone-HAp scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.
• To investigate the potential of OceanBone-HAp as a bioactive component in bone scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Scaffold fabrication via solvent casting/particulate leaching using PCL and OceanBone-HAp.
• Morphological and physicochemical characterization using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and porosity analysis.
• In vitro cell studies (adhesion, proliferation, viability, gene expression) and in vivo rabbit calvarial defect model implantation.

Main Results:

• The PCL/OceanBone-HAp scaffold exhibited a confirmed porous structure with successful solvent and porogen removal.
• In vitro tests showed superior cell adhesion, proliferation, and viability on PCL/OceanBone-HAp compared to PCL scaffolds.
• Enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and expression of key bone regeneration markers (BMP-2, COL1A1, OCN, BSP) were observed.

Conclusions:

• The PCL/OceanBone-HAp scaffold demonstrates excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity.
• In vivo studies confirmed enhanced bone regeneration in rabbit calvarial defects using the PCL/OceanBone-HAp scaffold.
• This novel scaffold holds significant promise as a material for effective bone repair and regeneration.