title: Controlled nucleation of hydroxyapatite on alginate scaffolds for stem cell-based bone tissue engineering.
abstract: Current bone tissue engineering strategies aim to grow a tissue similar to native bone by combining cells and biologically active molecules with a scaffold material. In this study, a macroporous scaffold made from the seaweed-derived polymer alginate was synthesized and mineralized for cell-based bone tissue engineering applications. Nucleation of a bone-like hydroxyapatite mineral was achieved by incubating the scaffold in modified simulated body fluids (mSBF) for 4 weeks. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis indicated growth of a continuous layer of mineral primarily composed of calcium and phosphorous. X-ray diffraction analysis showed peaks associated with hydroxyapatite, the major inorganic constituent of human bone tissue. In addition to the mineral characterization, the ability to control nucleation on the surface, into the bulk of the material, or on the inner pore surfaces of scaffolds was demonstrated. Finally, human MSCs attached and proliferated on the mineralized scaffolds and cell attachment improved when seeding cells on mineral coated alginate scaffolds. This novel alginate- HAP composite material could be used in bone tissue engineering as a scaffold material to deliver cells, and perhaps also biologically active molecules.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Darilis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suárez-González
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barnhart
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanderby
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hollister
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D017886:Durapatite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D016062:Porosity / Q000187:drug effects; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D017886:Durapatite