Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that leads to the damage of subchondral bone. To treat OA, patients can have surgery to implant biomaterials into the damaged area. In this research, biomaterials of 3D porous scaffolds were fabricated by the use of air microbubbles for subchondral bone formation proposed for OA surgery. Microbubbles were generated in a polyvinyl alcohol solution at various air flow rates of 20 (F20), 100 (F100), 200 (F200), and 300 (F300) cc min−1. Molecular organization, structure, and morphology of the scaffolds were characterized and observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, a differential scanning calorimeter, and a scanning electron microscope, respectively. Physical and mechanical properties based on swelling behavior and compressive strength of the scaffolds were also evaluated. Biological performance by means of osteoblast proliferation, protein synthesis, and alkaline phosphatase activity of the scaffolds were studied. The scaffolds showed molecular organization via interaction of –OH and C = O. They had residual water in their structures. The scaffolds exhibited a morphology of a spherical-like cell shape with small pores and a rough surface produced on each cell. Each cell was well connected with the others. The cell size and porous structure of the scaffolds depended significantly on the flow rate used. The molecular organization, structure, and morphology of the scaffolds had an effect on their physical and mechanical properties and biological performance. F100 was found to be an optimum scaffold offering a molecular organization, structure, morphology, physical and mechanical properties, and biological performance which was suitable for subchondral bone formation. This research deduced that the F100 scaffold is promising for OA surgery.
This research explored a new trend in biomaterials science. The bone-mimicking effect of calcium phosphate on chitosan composite scaffolds was evaluated. Chitosan with 2% calcium phosphate was found to have suitable bone-mimicking performance for maxillofacial bone tissue engineering.
Modification of the surface of titanium into titania (TiO2) nanotube (TNT) arrays was performed by electrochemical anodization to design an endoprosthesis for maxillofacial surgery. TNT arrays with different surface structures were successfully coated on titanium substrates by varying the anodizing voltages and annealed at 450 °C for 4 h. The phase composition and morphology of the nanotubes were examined by x-ray powder diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The biological functions and water wettability of various surface structures were also investigated. The results demonstrated that the annealed nanotubes were composed of an anatase phase only at all applied voltages. The tube diameters and lengths increased as the voltage increased. The surfaces with modification had more wettability, cell adhesion, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition than the surfaces without modification. Finally, the results demonstrated that a modified surface of titanium to produce TNT arrays as a biomaterial is promising to design an osseointegrated surface of endoprosthesis for maxillofacial surgery.
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