Porous scaffolds of polycaprolactone reinforced with in situ generated hydroxyapatite for bone tissue engineering.
Polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) composites were prepared by in situ generation of HA in the polymer solution starting from the precursors calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate via sol-gel process. Highly interconnected porosity was achieved by means of the salt-leaching technique using a mixture of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate as porogens. Structure and morphology of the PCL/HA composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical properties were determined by means of tensile and compression tests. The possibility to employ the developed composites as scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration was assessed by cytotoxicity test of the PCL/HA composites extracts and cell adhesion and proliferation in vitro studies.
Fabbri
Paola
P
Department of Materials and Environmental Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. fabbri.paola@unimore.it
Bondioli
Federica
F
Messori
Massimo
M
Bartoli
Cristina
C
Dinucci
Dinuccio
D
Chiellini
Federica
F
D000818:Animals; D041702:BALB 3T3 Cells; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017886:Durapatite / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D044367:Phase Transition; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology
D011091:Polyesters; D014867:Water; C016240:polycaprolactone; D017886:Durapatite