<i>In Vitro</i> Characterization of 3D Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate Scaffolds Reinforced with Phosphate Based-Bioactive Glass for Bone Replacement

Abstract

Bone tissue engineering is an excellent alternative to reduce bone disorders and conditions, by inducing new functional bone regeneration starting from the synthesis of the biomaterials and then the combination of cell and factor therapy. In the present contribution, the scaffolds were made with a ratio of 80 wt.% of β-TCP and 20 wt. % of phosphate-based bioglass, in addition the phosphate-based bioglass was reinforced with zirconia in different amounts (0, 0.5 and 1.0 mol%) with the aim to reduce the dissolution rate, improve the osteoconduction and the osteogenesis of the bone tissue. The results obtained by μCT of the scaffolds containing zirconia showed a wide pore size distribution between 1.5 and 303 μm. AlamarBlue assays showed that the cell proliferation of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts scaffolds were sixfold increase in relation to the number of the initial cells. FE-SEM helped to observe the cauliflower structure of HA and DRX showed that crystalline phases formed after heat treatment were (NaCaPO4 and NaZr5PO4) owing both to the crystallization and combination of the bioglass and β-TCP .