Preparation and Characterization of Montmorillonite/Polycaprolactone Composite Scaffold Containing Strontium for Bone Tissue Engineering Studies

Abstract

Abstract:In this study, composite scaffolds containing strontium-modified MMT and polycaprolactone (SrMMT-PCL) were prepared by using particulate leaching technique. The macrostructure and morphology of composite scaffolds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The released amount of Sr 2+ from scaffolds into cell culture medium was examined by inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The pore size distribution of scaffolds was determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were also evaluated. The results of XRD confirmed intercalation of PCL into MMT layers. TGA studies concluded that the MMT in PCL promoted the thermal degradation of the matrix. ICP results showed that Sr 2+ was released from composite scaffolds. The majority of pore volume seems to be occupied by pores around 250-350 µm. SEM observations demonstrated the macroporous structure of the composite scaffolds obtained by using the particulate leaching method. As a result, the gained data suggest that obtained tissue-engineered scaffold has the potential to serve as a suitable template for bone tissue engineering applications.

Creating Structured Hydrogel Microenvironments for Regulating Stem Cell Differentiation

“…Montmorillonite (MMT) is a three-layered smectite group of minerals [ 93 ]. MTT nanoparticles are plate-shaped, typically 1 nm in thickness and 0.2–2microns in diameter [ 93 , 94 ]. MTT consists of two tetrahedral sheets covered by one octahedral sheet sandwiched in between.…”

“…MTT consists of two tetrahedral sheets covered by one octahedral sheet sandwiched in between. Like many nanoclays, its surface is slightly negatively charged because oxide anions dominate the charge balancing anions present in the interface domain and impart a light overall negative charge to the surfaces of the sheet clay minerals [ 93 , 94 ]. Montmorillonite has an excellent absorption property and available within its interlayer spaces and on the outer surface and edges [ 93 , 95 ].…”

“…Montmorillonite has an excellent absorption property and available within its interlayer spaces and on the outer surface and edges [ 93 , 95 ]. Montmorillonite has shown promise as an additive in bone tissue engineering applications [ 93 , 94 , 95 ]. Demir (2016) combined PCL with strontium (Sr)-modified MMT to fabricate a composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering [ 94 ].…”

“…Montmorillonite has shown promise as an additive in bone tissue engineering applications [ 93 , 94 , 95 ]. Demir (2016) combined PCL with strontium (Sr)-modified MMT to fabricate a composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering [ 94 ]. Chitosan-based clay composites were developed using MTT and hydroxyapatite (HA) as the major constituents [ 95 ].…”

Development and characterization of gelatine/chitosan/montmorillonite composite scaffold enriched with magnesium

“…Montmorillonites enriched with Mg 2+ were prepared as described previously. 9 Briefly, dispersed MMT was stirred magnetically at room temperature for 24 h. Then, magnesium chloride solutions at concentrations equivalent to either 1, 2 or 4 times of CEC of clay were prepared and added into MMT solutions. The stirring was continued for an additional 12 h to obtain a homogeneous mixture.…”