A comparison study between electrospun polycaprolactone and piezoelectric poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Abstract

In this study, bone scaffolds composed of polycaprolactone (PCL), piezoelectric poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and a combination of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and silicate containing hydroxyapatite (PHBV-SiHA) were successfully fabricated by a conventional electrospinning process. The morphological, chemical, wetting and biological properties of the scaffolds were examined. All fabricated scaffolds are composed of randomly oriented fibres with diameters from 800nm to 12μm. Fibre size increased with the addition of SiHA to PHBV scaffolds. Moreover, fibre surface roughness in the case of hybrid scaffolds was also increased. XRD, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were used to analyse the chemical composition of the scaffolds, and contact angle measurements were performed to reveal the wetting behaviour of the synthesized materials. To determine the influence of the piezoelectric nature of PHBV in combination with SiHA nanoparticles on cell attachment and proliferation, PCL (non-piezoelectric), pure PHBV, and PHBV-SiHA scaffolds were seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). In vitro study on hMSC adhesion, viability, spreading and osteogenic differentiation showed that the PHBV-SiHA scaffolds had the largest adhesion and differentiation abilities compared with other scaffolds. Moreover, the piezoelectric PHBV scaffolds have demonstrated better calcium deposition potential compared with non-piezoelectric PCL. The results of the study revealed pronounced advantages of hybrid PHBV-SiHA scaffolds to be used in bone tissue engineering.

Phase-contrast 3D tomography of HeLa cells grown in PLLA polymer electrospun scaffolds using synchrotron X-rays

“…The use of X-ray tomography together with sophisticated 3D analysis has been demonstrated well in this study as well as recent studies investigating different polycaprolactone scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration [49,50] and after checking the effect of mineralisation behaviour of CaCO 3 deposited on such scaffolds followed by 2 plasma treatment [51]. It is evident that the future will involve using such methods not only for investigating scaffold characteristics but will combine detailed cell analysis investigating cell adhesion, growth, viability morphology and differentiation [51].…”

Effect of low-temperature plasma treatment of electrospun polycaprolactone fibrous scaffolds on calcium carbonate mineralisation

“…A wide range of polymers can be employed for scaffold fabrication, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), [1][2][3][4] poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), 1,5,6 and poly(3-caprolactone) (PCL). 1,[7][8][9][10][11] PCL is benecial for tissue regeneration and drug delivery applications on account of its biocompatibility, processability, degradability, and mechanical properties. However, the surface wettability and osteoconductivity of PCL materials require improvement given the low cell attachment and proliferation on untreated PCL scaffolds.…”

“…However, the surface wettability and osteoconductivity of PCL materials require improvement given the low cell attachment and proliferation on untreated PCL scaffolds. 7,8 Several surface modication techniques such as chemical treatment, lm deposition, blending, ion beam radiation, and plasma treatment have been developed to overcome these shortcomings. 2,3,7,9,12 The most promising techniques are plasma treatment and biomineralisation of polymer scaffolds.…”

Morphology Dependence Degradation of Electro- and Magnetoactive Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) for Tissue Engineering Applications

“…Degradation was apparent from week 4 and onwards, leading to the conclusion that the degradation ratio of the material is suitable for a large range of tissue engineering applications. Further, it was found that the degradation of the samples maintain the biocompatibility of the materials for the pristine polymer, but can lead to cytotoxic effects when the magnetic CFO nanoparticles are exposed, being therefore needed, for magnetoactive applications, to substitute them by biocompatible ferrites, such as an iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ).Polymers 2020, 12, 953 2 of 15In particular, smart polymers are gaining increasing attention as substrates and scaffolds for tissue engineering applications mainly as electroactive substrates-mostly piezoelectric ones-such as poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) [5,6], poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) [7], poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) [8,9] and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) [10,11], among others. The ability of those materials to actively enhance and stimulate cellular differentiation processes has been already proven [12,13], based on their mechano-transduction characteristics, generating voltage upon mechanical stimulation and vice-versa [14].…”

“…In particular, smart polymers are gaining increasing attention as substrates and scaffolds for tissue engineering applications mainly as electroactive substrates-mostly piezoelectric ones-such as poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) [5,6], poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) [7], poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) [8,9] and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) [10,11], among others. The ability of those materials to actively enhance and stimulate cellular differentiation processes has been already proven [12,13], based on their mechano-transduction characteristics, generating voltage upon mechanical stimulation and vice-versa [14].…”