3-dimensional composite scaffolds consisting of apatite-PLGA-atelocollagen for bone tissue engineering.

We fabricated 3-dimensional scaffolds consisting of biodegradable poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)(75/25) with hydroxyapatite particles containing atelocollagen (aAC). The aim of this study was to evaluate this new type of scaffold in regard to its basic properties and biocompatibility. Characterization of the obtained scaffolds was performed to know the porosity, shrinkage, diametral tensile strength, and biocompatibility. Composite scaffolds made of PLGA with hydroxyapatite particles containing atelocollagen (PL-aAC) showed a greater strength and stability than PLGA scaffolds. PL-aAC also exhibited superior performance in terms of cell attachment and proliferation as compared to PLGA, while histological findings showed that PL-aAC had an excellent response toward soft tissues. Our results strongly suggest that PL-aAC is more useful for cell transplantation as compared to PLGA for bone tissue engineering.