Nanohydroxyapatite/poly(ester urethane) scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Biodegradable viscoelastic poly(ester urethane)-based scaffolds show great promise for tissue engineering. In this study, the preparation of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHA)/poly(ester urethane) composite scaffolds using a salt-leaching-phase inverse process is reported. The dispersion of nHA microaggregates in the polymer matrix were imaged by microcomputed X-ray tomography, allowing a study of the effect of the nHA mass fraction and process parameters on the inorganic phase dispersion, and ultimately the optimization of the preparation method. How the composite scaffold’s geometry and mechanical properties change with the nHA mass fraction and the process parameters were assessed. Increasing the amount of nHA particles in the composite scaffold decreased the porosity, increased the wall thickness and consequently decreased the pore size. The Young’s modulus of the poly(ester urethane) scaffold was improved by 50% by addition of 10 wt.% nHA (from 0.95 ± 0.5 to 1.26 ± 0.4 MPa), while conserving poly(ester urethane) viscoelastic properties and without significant changes in the scaffold macrostructure. Moreover, the process permitted the inclusion of nHA particles not only in the poly(ester urethane) matrix, but also at the surface of the scaffold pores, as shown by scanning electron microscopy. nHA/poly(ester urethane) composite scaffolds have great potential as osteoconductive constructs for bone tissue engineering.     

多孔HA/PU复合支架材料生物相容性的评估

进行了三维多孔立体结构的纳米羟基磷灰石/聚氨酯(HA/PU)复合支架材料体外细胞培养和体内肌肉埋植实验研究,评估材料的生物相容性。实验选用SD大鼠的骨髓基质干细胞(BMSCs)和健康的SD雌性大鼠,进行细胞相容性、形态学观察和组织学切片分析。HA/PU支架材料的多孔性为细胞的生长提供了良好的微环境,细胞在内部贴壁爬行、增殖并分化,细胞毒性为零级,材料与周围组织有良好的结合,降解的空间有结缔组织纤维长入。实验表明,HA/PU复合支架材料具有良好的细胞亲和性和组织学相容性,可作为一类新型组织工程支架材料。     

Preparation and characterization of nano-hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin porous scaffolds

Novel tissue engineering scaffold materials of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA)/silk fibroin (SF) biocomposite were prepared by freeze-drying. The needle-like nHA crystals of about 10 nm in diameter by 50-80 nm in length, which were uniformly distributed in the porous nHA/SF scaffolds, were prepared by a co-precipitation method with a size. The as-prepared nHA/SF scaffolds showed good homogeneity, interconnected pores and high porosity. XRD and FT-IR analysis suggested that the silk fibroin was in beta-sheet structure, which usually provides outstanding mechanical properties for silk materials. In this work, composite scaffolds containing as high as 70% (w/w) nHA were prepared, which had excellent compressive modulus and strength, higher than the scaffolds at low nHA content level and other porous biodegradable polymeric scaffolds often considered in bone-related tissue engineering reported previously. The cell compatibility of composite scaffolds was evaluated through cell viability by MTT assay. All these results indicated that these nHA/SF scaffold materials may be a promising biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.     

骨髓间充质干细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石复合骨修复材料的研究进展

随着骨组织工程的发展,纳米羟基磷灰石（nHA）作为一种新型的骨组织支架材料应运而生,而骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）是骨组织工程中一种理想的种子细胞。目前,BMSCs 与 nHA 复合后的骨修复材料用于临床的技术和条件还不完善。本研究通过对骨髓间充质干细胞和纳米羟基磷灰石的复合以及复合后BMSCs 增殖、分化、坏死、凋亡、矿化以及 nHA 支架材料体内降解的检测技术和指标进行概述,同时对二者复合的影响因素进行综述,为骨髓间充质干细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石复合骨修复材料应用于临床提供依据。     

Preparation and characterization of nano-hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin porous scaffolds

Novel tissue engineering scaffold materials of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA)/silk fibroin (SF) biocomposite were prepared by freeze-drying. The needle-like nHA crystals of about 10 nm in diameter by 50–80 nm in length, which were uniformly distributed in the porous nHA/SF scaffolds, were prepared by a co-precipitation method with a size. The as-prepared nHA/SF scaffolds showed good homogeneity, interconnected pores and high porosity. XRD and FT-IR analysis suggested that the silk fibroin was in β-sheet structure, which usually provides outstanding mechanical properties for silk materials. In this work, composite scaffolds containing as high as 70% (w/w) nHA were prepared, which had excellent compressive modulus and strength, higher than the scaffolds at low nHA content level and other porous biodegradable polymeric scaffolds often considered in bone-related tissue engineering reported previously. The cell compatibility of composite scaffolds was evaluated through cell viability by MTT assay. All these results indicated that these nHA/SF scaffold materials may be a promising biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.     

In vitro and animal study of novel nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) composite scaffolds fabricated by layer manufacturing process

The purpose of this study was to propose a computer-controllable scaffold structure made by a layer manufacturing process (LMP) with addition of nano- or micro-sized particles and to investigate the effects of particle size in vitro. In addition, the superiority of this LMP method over the conventional scaffolds made by salt leaching and gas forming process was investigated through animal study. Using the LMP, we have created a new nano-sized hydroxyapatite/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) composite (n-HPC) scaffold and a micro-sized hydroxyapatite/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) composite (m-HPC) scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications. The scaffold macropores were well interconnected, with a porosity of 73% and a pore size of 500 microm. The compressive modulus of the n-HPC and m-HPC scaffolds was 6.76 and 3.18 MPa, respectively. We compared the cellular responses to the two kinds of scaffolds. Both n-HPC and m-HPC exhibited good in vitro biocompatibility. Attachment and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells were better on the n-HPC than on the m-HPC scaffold. Moreover, significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content were observed on the n-HPC than on the m-HPC scaffold. In an animal study, the LMP scaffolds enhanced bone formation, owing to their well-interconnected pores. Radiological and histological examinations confirmed that the new bony tissue had grown easily into the entire n-HPC scaffold fabricated by LMP. We suggest that the well-interconnected pores in the LMP scaffolds might encourage cell attachment, proliferation, and migration to stimulate cell functions, thus enhancing bone formation in the LMP scaffolds. This study shows that bioactive and biocompatible n-HPC composite scaffolds prepared using an LMP have potential applications in bone tissue engineering.     

Extrusion-based 3D printing of poly(propylene fumarate) scaffolds with hydroxyapatite gradients

The primary focus of this work is to present the current challenges of printing scaffolds with concentration gradients of nanoparticles with an aim to improve the processing of these scaffolds. Furthermore, we address how print fidelity is related to material composition and emphasize the importance of considering this relationship when developing complex scaffolds for bone implants. The ability to create complex tissues is becoming increasingly relevant in the tissue engineering community. For bone tissue engineering applications, this work demonstrates the ability to use extrusion-based printing techniques to control the spatial deposition of hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles in a 3D composite scaffold. In doing so, we combined the benefits of synthetic, degradable polymers, such as poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF), with osteoconductive HA nanoparticles that provide robust compressive mechanical properties. Furthermore, the final 3D printed scaffolds consisted of well-defined layers with interconnected pores, two critical features for a successful bone implant. To demonstrate a controlled gradient of HA, thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to quantify HA on a per-layer basis. Moreover, we non-destructively evaluated the tendency of HA particles to aggregate within PPF using micro-computed tomography (μCT). This work provides insight for proper fabrication and characterization of composite scaffolds containing particle gradients and has broad applicability for future efforts in fabricating complex scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.     

Nucleation and growth of mineralized bone matrix on silk-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds

We describe a composite hydroxyapatite (HA)-silk fibroin scaffold designed to induce and support the formation of mineralized bone matrix by human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in the absence of osteogenic growth factors. Porous three-dimensional silk scaffolds were extensively used in our previous work for bone tissue engineering and showed excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, silk is not an osteogenic material and has a compressive stiffness significantly lower than that of native bone. In the present study, we explored the incorporation of silk sponge matrices with HA (bone mineral) micro-particles to generate highly osteogenic composite scaffolds capable of inducing the in vitro formation of tissue-engineered bone. Different amounts of HA were embedded in silk sponges at volume fractions of 0%, 1.6%, 3.1% and 4.6% to enhance the osteoconductive activity and mechanical properties of the scaffolds. The cultivation of hMSCs in the silk/HA composite scaffolds under perfusion conditions resulted in the formation of bone-like structures and an increase in the equilibrium Young's modulus (up to 4-fold or 8-fold over 5 or 10 weeks of cultivation, respectively) in a manner that correlated with the initial HA content. The enhancement in mechanical properties was associated with the development of the structural connectivity of engineered bone matrix. Collectively, the data suggest two mechanisms by which the incorporated HA enhanced the formation of tissue engineered bone: through osteoconductivity of the material leading to increased bone matrix production, and by providing nucleation sites for new mineral resulting in the connectivity of trabecular-like architecture.     

成骨诱导人脐带间充质干细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66支架材料的生物相容性☆

背景：纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66材料有利于成骨细胞的长入和新生骨的形成、且抗弯强度、抗压强度等各项参数与正常骨组织的力学性能相接近,能满足实验动物硬组织修复的要求。 目的：分析成骨诱导后人脐带间充质干细胞与纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66复合支架的生物相容性。 方法：体外培养人脐带间充质干细胞,纯化增殖,成骨诱导。取成骨诱导后的第3代人脐带间充质干细胞接种于纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66支架材料上,观察细胞的生长、增殖情况及材料细胞毒性。 结果与结论：成骨诱导后人脐带间充质干细胞在复合支架上生长分化良好,增殖活性不受材料影响。成骨诱导14 d内,可见碱性磷酸酶活性随着培养时间延长而逐渐增高。MTT法检测细胞无毒性。扫描电镜观察,1 d后可见细胞在支架表面附着生长;7 d后可见细胞在材料上生长良好,材料空隙有大量充填。说明纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66支架可作为骨组织工程中人脐带间充质干细胞的细胞载体,具有良好的生物相容性,能满足骨组织工程的需要。关键词：羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66;人脐带间充质干细胞;细胞培养;骨组织工程;支架;生物相容性 缩略语注释：nHA/PA66：nano-hydroxyapatite crystals and pnolyamide 66,羟基磷灰石/聚酰胺66;hUCMSCs：human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,人脐带间充质干细胞 doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2012.16.019     

基于丝素/胶原/羟基磷灰石仿生骨材料的多维结构及其性能

目的 体外构建丝素蛋白（silk fibroin,SF）、I型胶原(type I collagen,Col-I)和羟基磷灰石(hydroxyapatite, HA)共混体系制备二维复合膜和三维仿生支架,研究其理化性质和生物相容性,探讨其在组织工程支架材料中应用的可行性。方法 通过在细胞培养小室底部共混SF/Col-I/HA以及低温3D打印结合真空冷冻干燥法制备二维复合膜及三维支架。通过机械性能测试、电子显微镜和Micro-CT检测材料的理化性质,检测细胞的增殖评估其生物相容性。结果 通过共混和低温3D打印获得稳定的二维复合膜及三维多孔结构支架;力学性能具有较好的一致性,孔径、吸水率、孔隙率和弹性模量均符合构建组织工程骨的要求;支架为网格状的白色立方体,内部孔隙连通性较好; HA均匀分布在复合膜中,细胞黏附在复合膜上,呈扁平状;细胞分布在支架孔壁周围,呈梭形状,生长及增殖良好。结论 利用SF/Col-I/HA共混体系成功制备复合膜及三维支架,具有较好的孔连通性与孔结构,有利于细胞和组织的生长以及营养输送,其理化性能以及生物相容性符合骨组织工程生物材料的要求。     

电纺纳米羟基磷灰石/聚酯酰胺复合支架材料的制备及其细胞相容性

背景：采用静电纺丝技术将功能性无机纳米微粒复合高分子超细纤维,形成类细胞外基质结构和功能的复合支架材料是骨组织工程支架领域一个新的研究方向。 目的：通过静电纺丝法构建纳米羟基磷灰石/脂肪族聚酯酰胺复合纤维支架材料,并初步考察其细胞相容性。 方法：以静电纺丝法制备纳米羟基磷灰石/脂肪族聚酯酰胺超细纤维支架材料,通过扫描电镜、原子能谱等表面形貌的物相分析,进行细胞在复合材料上的形态学观察。 结果与结论：通过静电纺丝法成功制备出纳米羟基磷灰石/脂肪族聚酯酰胺超细纤维复合材料,成骨细胞直接培养于材料上呈现良好生长行为,初步证实了复合支架材料的细胞相容性。说明静电纺丝技术在构建类骨细胞外基质结构和功能的仿生复合材料方面具有独特优势,电纺超细纤维复合材料有望成为新型的骨组织工程支架。     

In vitro osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells and in vivo bone formation in composite nanofiber meshes

Tissue engineering has become an alternative method to traditional surgical treatments for the repair of bone defects, and an appropriate scaffold supporting bone formation is a key element in this approach. In the present study, nanofibrous organic and inorganic composite scaffolds containing nano-sized demineralized bone powders (DBPs) with biodegradable poly(L-lactide) (PLA) were developed using an electrospinning process for engineering bone. To assess their biocompatibility, in vitro osteogenic differentiation of human mandible-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) cultured on PLA or PLA/DBP composite nanofiber scaffolds were examined. The mineralization of hMSCs cultured with osteogenic supplements on the PLA/DBP nanofiber scaffolds was remarkably greater than on the PLA nanofiber scaffold during the first 14 days of culture but reached the same level after 21 days. The in vivo osteoconductive effect of PLA/DBP nanofibrous scaffolds was further investigated using rats with critical-sized skull defects. Micro-computerized tomography revealed that a greater amount of newly formed bone extended across the defect area in PLA/DBP scaffolds than in the nonimplant and PLA scaffolds 12 weeks after implantation and that the defect size was almost 90% smaller. Therefore, PLA/DBP composite nanofiber scaffolds may serve as a favorable matrix for the regeneration of bone tissue.     

Characterization and in vivo evaluation of chitosan-hydroxyapatite bone scaffolds made by one step coprecipitation method

Chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffolds could be used for bone regeneration in case the application of auto- or allografts is impossible. The objective of the present work was to characterize and study in vivo biodegradation of simple chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffolds. For this purpose, a series of chitosan/hydroxyapatite composites has been synthesized in aqueous medium from chitosan solution and soluble precursor salts by a one step coprecipitation method. A study of in vivo behavior of the materials was then performed using model linear rats. Cylindrical-shaped rods made of the chitosan/hydroxyapatite composite material were implanted into tibial bones of the rats. After 5, 10, 15, and 24 days of implantation, histological and histo-morphometric analyses of decalcified specimens were performed to evaluate the stages of biodegradation processes. Calcified specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis to compare elemental composition and morphological characteristics of the implant and the bone during integration. Porous chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffolds have shown osteoconductive properties and have been replaced in the in vivo experiments by newly formed bone tissue.     

3D打印成型纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/聚己内酯三元复合支架材料的构建及表征

文题释义： 组织工程骨：将体外培养的功能相关的种子细胞种植于天然的或人工合成的支架材料内,加入生长因子体外培养一段时间,将他们移植到体内,促进组织修复和骨再生的人工骨。组织工程骨形成的3要素为：支架材料、成骨细胞、生长因子。 生物陶瓷：生物表面活性陶瓷通常含有羟基,还可做成多孔性,生物组织可长入并同其表面发生牢固的键合;生物吸收性陶瓷的特点是能部分吸收或者全部吸收,在生物体内能诱发新生骨的生长。生物活性陶瓷具有骨传导性,它作为一个支架,成骨在其表面进行;还可作为多种物质的外壳或填充骨缺损。生物陶瓷有羟基磷灰石陶瓷、磷酸三钙陶瓷等。  背景：目前常用的骨缺损修复支架材料种类较多,但单一类型材料难以满足骨组织工程支架材料的要求,通过合适的方法将几种单一材料组合形成复合型材料,综合考虑各种材料优缺点,是近年来学者们的研究重点。 目的：构建纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/聚己内酯三元复合支架材料,并作表征分析研究。 方法：采用3D打印成型技术制备纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/聚己内酯多孔三元复合支架材料,从X射线衍射分析、吸水率、抗压强度、体外降解性能、孔径分析、扫描电镜分析等多个维度对支架材料进行表征研究。 结果与结论：①X射线衍射分析显示,纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/聚己内酯多孔三元复合支架的晶型峰图与羟基磷灰石粉末衍射标准卡片类似,表明该三元复合支架是通过物理作用相互结合的,不影响羟基磷灰石的生物学功能;②三元复合支架的吸水率为18.28%,亲水性好,支架可承受的最大压力为1 415 N,其体外降解速率与成骨速率相当;③显微镜下可见三元复合支架的内孔为方形,孔径250 µm,孔径大小均匀、分布有致;④扫描电镜下三元复合支架可见,壳聚糖和聚己内酯组成的纤维排列整齐有序,成网格状, 羟基磷灰石呈颗粒状在纤维表面均匀分布,三元复合材料呈现均匀、疏松的微孔结构;⑤结果表明,通过3D打印成型技术可成功制备纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/聚己内酯三元复合支架材料,其具有适度的抗压强度、一定的孔隙率、适宜的降解速度和吸水率,能为修复骨缺损的奠定基础。 ORCID: 0000-0002-6321-9160(余和东) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程       

Characterization of a bovine collagen-hydroxyapatite composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Different biomaterials have been used as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Here we characterize a biomaterial composed of sintered (1100 degrees C) and powdered hydroxyapatite (HA) and type I collagen (Coll), both of bovine origin, designed for osteoconductive and osteoinductive scaffolds. Coll/HA proportions were 1/2.6 and 1/1 (wet weight), and particles sizes varied from 200 to 400 microm. Vv (volume density) and Sv (surface to volume density) for the HA particles in the composite ranged from 0.48 +/- 0.06 to 0.55 +/- 0.02 and 5.090 +/- 0.545 to 6.366 +/- 0.289 microm(-1), respectively. Due to the relatively small changes in Vv and Sv, a macroporosity could be characterized for the biocomposite. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy showed that the sintered bone was composed essentially of HA with minimum additional groups such as surface calcium hydroxide, surface and crystal water, free carbon dioxide and possibly brushite. Mass spectrometry detected carbonates at A and B sites of HA, and weakly bound to the structure. Human osteoblasts adhered and spread on both the HA particle surface and the collagen fibers, which seemed to guide cells between adjacent particles. The biocomposite studied has several characteristics considered as ideal for its use as a scaffold for osteoconduction and osteoinduction.     

3D打印羊椎骨粉/聚乙烯醇支架、纳米级羟基磷灰石/聚乙烯醇支架、羊椎骨粉/聚乙烯醇无孔骨板的性能比较

BACKGROUND: With the promotion of 3D printing technology, 3D printing scaffolds for bone tissue engineering have become the new ideas for jaw bone repair. OBJECTIVE: To compare the physical and biological properties of sheep vertebral bone meal/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) scaffold, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA)/PVA scaffold, and sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA nonporous bone plate. METHODS: 3D printing technology was used to print sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA scaffold, nHA/PVA scaffold, and sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA nonporous bone plate. Porosity, morphology, water absorption rate and mechanical properties of different scaffolds were detected. Three kinds of scaffolds were all used to culture bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and cell proliferation ability was detected using cell counting kit-8 at 1, 4, 7 days of culture. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Under scanning electron microscope, the sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA scaffold and nHA/PVA scaffold exhibited regular and interconnected pores with good continuity and clear network structure; the sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA nonporous bone plate had no obvious pores; however, it had dense and evenly distributed micropores with different sizes on its surface. The porosity of nHA/PVA scaffold was lower than that of the sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA scaffold (P < 0.05). The water absorption rate was highest for the nHA/PVA scaffold followed by the sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA scaffold and the sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA nonporous bone plate (P < 0.05). In contrast, the scaffold toughness was highest for the sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA nonporous bone plate, followed by the sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA scaffold and nHA/PVA scaffold. In addition, the cell proliferation activity of cells cultured on the sheep vertebral bone meal/PVA scaffold was significantly higher than that cultured on the other two kinds of scaffolds. Taken together, the 3D printing sheep vertebral bone/PVA scaffold has good physical and chemical performance.     

Combined use of designed scaffolds and adenoviral gene therapy for skeletal tissue engineering

While tissue engineering remains the most researched alternative to conventional therapies for repair and regeneration, how to optimally combine two of the most promising techniques, designed solid scaffolds and localized gene therapy, is largely unknown. We have conducted a systematic screening of several variables that may affect generation of bone via adenoviral gene therapy vector delivery, on image-based designed and solid freeform-fabricated scaffolds. These variables included: gene therapy type (ex vivo or in vivo); scaffold base material (sintered hydroxyapatite or a polypropylene fumarate/ tricalcium phosphate (PPF/TCP) composite), secondary carrier used to attach the biofactor to the scaffold (fibrin gel or a poly-lactic acid sponge), and scaffold pores size (300 or 800 microm). The in vivo formation of bone following implantation of these scaffolds was then analyzed. Gene therapy method had the largest effect, with ex vivo gene therapy yielding significant amounts of bone on nearly all the implants and in vivo gene therapy failing to produce any bone on most implants. Secondary carrier was the next most important variable, with fibrin gel consistently producing bone encompassing the implants and producing 2-4 times as much bone as the polymer sponge, which triggered only isolated bone growth. Though both scaffold base materials allowed bone growth, hydoxyapatite scaffolds generated twice as much bone as PPF/TCP scaffolds. The pore sizes tested had no significant effect on tissue generation.     

Porous polycaprolactone/nanohydroxyapatite tissue engineering scaffolds fabricated by combining NaCl and PEG as co-porogens: structure, property, and chondrocyte-scaffold interaction in vitro

In this study, porous polycaprolactone/nanohydroxyapatite (PCL/nHA) composite scaffolds were fabricated using a modified melt-molding/leaching technique, by the combination of salt particulate (NaCl) and water-soluble polymer (PEG) as co-porogens. The porogens were kept at a constant proportion of 70% in the blends but varied in the NaCl/PEG ratio and the PEG variety to generate PCL/nHA scaffolds with various pore architectures. The resultant composite scaffolds were investigated on their morphologies, physicochemical properties, mechanical properties, and in vitro degradation. The cell-scaffold interactions were evaluated in vitro using chondrocyte. Generally, the PCL/nHA scaffolds exhibited multimodal pore morphologies consisting of macropores and interconnected micropores, created by the extraction of NaCl particulate and continuous PEG phase. The evolution of porogens led to much effect on the overall pore architecture of the scaffolds; subsequently, their physiochemical and mechanical properties and degradation behaviors, as well as the cell binding and proliferation. The PCL/nHA scaffold prepared from NaCl/PEG 4000 (20/50) presented more macropores (>50 μm) with interconnectivity and showed higher strength and improved bioactivity than the others. All of these results suggest promising potentials of PCL/nHA scaffolds developed in this study desired for cartilage tissue engineering.     

天冬氨酸修饰纳米羟基磷灰石/聚乳酸复合物制备软骨组织工程支架及其生物性能研究

目的:通过天冬氨酸修饰的纳米羟基磷灰石（Asp-nHA）和左旋聚乳酸（PLLA）复合,制备软骨组织工程支架,并进行体外实验研究,探索其作为软骨组织工程支架的可行性。 方法:以碳二亚胺盐酸盐/N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺偶联法制备Asp-nHA,并与PLLA复合,获得新型Asp-nHA/PLLA纳米复合支架。比较成骨细胞在该新型材料表面的粘附、生长和增殖的情况。 结果:加入nHA后,Asp-nHA/PLLA复合材料可显著增强细胞的粘附、生长、增殖;Asp-nHA/PLLA的生物学性能明显优于PLLA及HA/PLLA,且Asp-nHA/PLLA具有最强的体外诱导成骨细胞分化能力。 结论:Asp-nHA/PLLA制备简单,具有良好的生物相容性和成骨活性,是一种性能良好的骨组织工程支架材料。     

Microporous nanofibrous fibrin-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

The fibrotic response of the body to synthetic polymers limits their success in tissue engineering and other applications. Though porous polymers have demonstrated improved healing, difficulty in controlling their pore sizes and pore interconnections has clouded the understanding of this phenomenon. In this study, a novel method to fabricate natural polymer/calcium phosphate composite scaffolds with tightly controllable pore size, pore interconnection, and calcium phosphate deposition was developed. Microporous, nanofibrous fibrin scaffolds were fabricated using sphere-templating methods. Composite scaffolds were created by solution deposition of calcium phosphate on fibrin surfaces or by direct incorporation of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (nHA). The SEM results showed that fibrin scaffolds exhibited a highly porous and interconnected structure. Osteoblast-like cells, obtained from murine calvaria, attached, spread and showed a polygonal morphology on the surface of the biomaterial. Multiple cell layers and fibrillar matrix deposition were observed. Moreover, cells seeded on mineralized fibrin scaffolds exhibited significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity as well as osteoblast marker gene expression compared to fibrin scaffolds and nHA incorporated fibrin scaffolds (0.25 and 0.5g). All types of scaffolds were degraded both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, these scaffolds promoted bone formation in a mouse calvarial defect model and the bone formation was enhanced by addition of rhBMP-2.