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3D Printed Porous Cellulose Nanocomposite Hydrogel Scaffolds
Published on: April 24, 2019
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Development of hydrogel-based composite scaffolds containing eggshell particles for bone regeneration applications.
Nicholas D Calvert1, Scott Proulx1, Alejandro Rodriguez-Navarro2
1Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B, Applied Biomaterials
|September 13, 2023
Summary
This study developed novel alginate-chitosan hydrogel scaffolds with eggshell particles for bone tissue engineering. These scaffolds enhanced cell retention, viability, and osteogenic differentiation, showing promise as bone substitutes.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bone tissue engineering requires biocompatible scaffolds that mimic the native bone extracellular matrix.
- Alginate-chitosan hydrogels offer tunable properties but require enhancement for bone regeneration.
- Eggshell particles present a potential source of biomimetic materials for bone scaffolds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize novel composite scaffolds using alginate-chitosan hydrogel and eggshell (ES) particles.
- To investigate the effect of nanotextured eggshell particles (NTES) on scaffold properties and cellular response.
- To evaluate the potential of these scaffolds as bone substitutes for tissue engineering applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of alginate-chitosan hydrogel scaffolds incorporating untreated eggshell (ES) particles and nanotextured eggshell (NTES) particles.
- Characterization of scaffold porosity, pore size, and mechanical properties (compressive modulus).
- Assessment of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) retention, viability, and osteogenic differentiation (alkaline phosphatase activity).
Main Results:
- Scaffolds with ES and NTES particles exhibited significantly higher porosity and altered pore size distribution compared to controls.
- While compressive modulus was low, scaffolds with particles showed improved resistance to deformation and superior hMSC retention and viability.
- Significant increases in alkaline phosphatase activity were observed in scaffolds with ES and NTES particles, indicating osteogenic differentiation.
Conclusions:
- The developed alginate-chitosan hydrogel scaffolds containing eggshell particles possess physicochemical properties suitable for bone tissue engineering.
- The nanotexturing of eggshell particles enhanced their biomimetic potential.
- These composite scaffolds support early osteogenic differentiation and are promising candidates for non-load-bearing bone substitute applications.
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