In Situ Preparation of Composite Scaffolds Based on Polyurethane and Hydroxyapatite Particles for Bone Tissue...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Polyurethane (PU) derived from vegetable oils shows potential for bone tissue repair.
• Buriti oil, rich in bioactive compounds like carotenoids and tocopherols, offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Oleic acid in buriti oil acts as an effective hydroxyapatite (HAp) dispersant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize composite scaffolds of PU and HAp using buriti oil via in situ polymerization.
• To characterize the chemical composition, HAp distribution, and thermal stability of the developed scaffolds.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility of the PU-HAp scaffolds using mesenchymal stem cells.

Main Methods:

• In situ polymerization to create PU scaffolds from buriti oil-derived polyol.
• Incorporation of varying concentrations of HAp into the PU matrix.
• Characterization using FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS, and TGA.
• Biocompatibility assessment via MTT assays with rat bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC).

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of PU scaffolds confirmed by FTIR and XRD.
• Uniform distribution of HAp particles within the PU matrix observed via SEM and EDS.
• Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated good thermal stability.
• MTT tests demonstrated no cytotoxicity, indicating good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• Composite scaffolds of PU and HAp were successfully prepared using buriti oil.
• The developed materials exhibit suitable characteristics for tissue engineering applications.
• The absence of cytotoxicity suggests potential for bone tissue regeneration.