In this study, the effect of feed composition, degree of hydrophilicity, and internal morphology has been investigated for cell proliferation potential of the polyacrylamide/gelatin (PAm/G) semi-interpenetrating polymeric network (semi-IPNs). Polycaprolactone diacrylate was used to cross-link polyacrylamide chains. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs demonstrate uniformly distributed porous structure with internal diameter in the range of 75-175 μm, dependent on matrix compositions. Water-air contact angle was found in the range of 49° ± 0.22 to 89° ± 0.14 (p < 0.02) suggesting varying degree of hydrophilicity of the hydrogel surface. In addition, protein adsorption study showed 45 ± 0.14 μg to 64 ± 0.12 μg (p < 0.01) of protein adsorbed per cm² of hydrogel. Quantitative estimation of cell adhesion and proliferation was carried out by DNA quantification using fluorimetric assay method (p < 0.02). Microscopic images of proliferative cells on semi-IPNs by fluorescent and inverted phase contrast supported the findings of DNA quantification. Contact angle in the range of 63-69° in association with 52-59 μg/cm² protein absorption and 115-150 μm pore size was found optimum for fibroblast proliferation on PAm/G semi-IPN scaffolds. The newly developed semi-interpenetrating network may serve as a potential scaffold for soft tissue-engineering applications.
Background & objectives:There is a significant bone tissue loss in patients from diseases and traumatic injury. The current autograft transplantation gold standard treatment has drawbacks, namely donor site morbidity and limited supply. The field of tissue engineering has emerged with a goal to provide alternative sources for transplantations to bridge this gap between the need and lack of bone graft. The aim of this study was to prepare biocomposite scaffolds based on chitosan (CHT), polycaprolactone (PCL) and hydroxyapatite (HAP) by freeze drying method and to assess the role of scaffolds in spatial organization, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro, in order to achieve bone graft substitutes with improved physical-chemical and biological properties.Methods:Pure chitosan (100CHT) and composites (40CHT/HAP, 30CHT/HAP/PCL and 25CHT/HAP/PCL scaffolds containing 40, 30, 25 parts per hundred resin (phr) filler, respectively) in acetic acid were freeze dried and the porous foams were studied for physicochemical and in vitro biological properties.Results:Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the scaffolds showed porous microstructure (20-300 μm) with uniform pore distribution in all compositions. Materials were tested under compressive load in wet condition (using phosphate buffered saline at pH 7.4). The in vitro studies showed that all the scaffold compositions supported mesenchymal stem cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation as visible from SEM images, [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay and quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR.Interpretation & conclusions:Scaffold composition 25CHT/HAP/PCL showed better biomechanical and osteoinductive properties as evident by mechanical test and alkaline phosphatase activity and osteoblast specific gene expression studies. This study suggests that this novel degradable 3D composite may have great potential to be used as scaffold in bone tissue engineering.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.