A triphasic ceramic-coated porous hydroxyapatite for tissue engineering application

Scaffolds which encourage the incorporation of a cell source for tissue engineering applications are critical determinants for clinical defects. Over the years, a number of biomaterials have emerged for cell support and growth, but only a few have demonstrated clinical efficacy. We therefore investigated an in-house-developed silica-based bioactive ceramic for its ability to support and sustain the growth of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro. For this, MSCs aspirated from goat bone marrow were isolated and culture expanded on a novel triphasic ceramic composite coated hydroxyapatite (HASi) scaffold comprising hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate and calcium silicate. The viability of cells that harbored on and within the material was ensured through fluorescence-activated cell sorting and confocal laser scanning microscope and for their anchorage sites by scanning electron microscopy. Interestingly, over the days in culture, cell-cell interactions gradually morphed into woven cell-sheets that spanned across the surface of the HASi, forming a canopy. To conclude, we have attempted to carry out the preliminary cytocompatibility studies of this novel ceramic to establish its appropriateness for bone tissue engineering application which is an important criterion in orthopaedic transplantation and regenerative surgery.