Bozorgi Azam, Mozafari Masoud, Khazaei Mozafar, Soleimani Mansooreh, Jamalpoor Zahra
Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Bioimpacts. 2022;12(3):233-246. doi: 10.34172/bi.2021.23451. Epub 2021 Oct 11.
Fabricating composite scaffolds with improved physicochemical properties as artificial microenvironments are of great interest in bone tissue engineering. Given advantageous properties of nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan/gelatin (nHA/Cs/Gel) scaffolds, the present study aimed to synthesize a modified nHA/Cs/Gel biomimetic scaffold with improved features. Pure and copper (Cu)-substituted nHA was synthesized using the chemical precipitation method under controlled pH and temperature. Pure and Cu-substituted nHA/Cs/Gel scaffolds were fabricated by salt-leaching/freeze-drying method. Physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles and scaffolds were explored using XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM/EDX, and ICP. Besides, scaffold mechanical strength, degradation, porosity, swelling, biomineralization, and cytocompatibility were assessed. Pure and Cu-substituted nHA were synthesized and characterized with appropriate Cu substitution and improved physical properties. All scaffolds were highly porous (porosity > 98%) and Cu incorporation reduced porosity from 99.555 ± 0.394% to 98.69 ± 0.80% while enlarged the pore size to more than100 µm. Cu-substitution improved the scaffold mechanical strength and the best result was observed in nHA.Cu5%/Cs/Gel scaffolds by the compressive strength 88.869 ± 19.574 MPa. Furthermore, 3% and 5% Cu-substituted nHA enhanced the scaffold structural stability and supported osteoblast spread, adhesion, survival, mineralization, and proliferation. Moreover, long-term and sustainable Cu release from scaffolds was observed within 28 days. Cu-substituted nHA/Cs/Gel scaffolds mimic the porous structure and mechanical strength of cancellous bone, along with prolonged degradation and Cu release, osteoblast attachment, viability, calcium deposition, and proliferation. Taken together, our results indicate the upgraded properties of nHA.Cu5%/Cs/Gel scaffolds for future applications in bone tissue engineering.
制造具有改善的物理化学性质的复合支架作为人工微环境在骨组织工程中备受关注。鉴于纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖/明胶（nHA/Cs/Gel）支架的有利特性，本研究旨在合成一种具有改进特性的改性nHA/Cs/Gel仿生支架。在控制的pH值和温度下，采用化学沉淀法合成了纯的和铜（Cu）取代的nHA。通过盐析/冷冻干燥法制备了纯的和Cu取代的nHA/Cs/Gel支架。利用XRD、FTIR、FE-SEM/EDX和ICP对纳米颗粒和支架的物理化学特性进行了探索。此外，还评估了支架的机械强度、降解、孔隙率、溶胀、生物矿化和细胞相容性。合成了纯的和Cu取代的nHA，并对其进行了表征，其具有适当的Cu取代和改善的物理性质。所有支架都具有高度多孔性（孔隙率>98%），Cu的掺入使孔隙率从99.555±0.394%降低到98.69±0.80%，同时将孔径扩大到100μm以上。Cu取代提高了支架的机械强度，在nHA.Cu5%/Cs/Gel支架中观察到最佳结果，其抗压强度为88.869±19.574MPa。此外，3%和5%的Cu取代nHA增强了支架的结构稳定性，并支持成骨细胞的铺展、粘附、存活、矿化和增殖。此外，在28天内观察到支架有长期和可持续的Cu释放。Cu取代的nHA/Cs/Gel支架模仿了松质骨的多孔结构和机械强度，同时具有延长的降解和Cu释放、成骨细胞附着、活力、钙沉积和增殖。综上所述，我们的结果表明nHA.Cu5%/Cs/Gel支架的性能得到了提升，可用于未来的骨组织工程应用。
