title: Rapid mineralization of electrospun scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
abstract: We investigated different techniques to enhance calcium phosphate mineral precipitation onto electrospun poly((L)-lactide) (PLLA) scaffolds when incubated in concentrated simulated body fluid (SBF), 10×SBF. The techniques included the use of vacuum, pre-treatment with 0.1 M NaOH and electrospinning gelatin/PLLA blends as means to increase overall mineral precipitation and distribution throughout the scaffolds. Mineral precipitation was evaluated using environmental scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping and the determination of the mineral weight percents. In addition we evaluated the effect of the techniques on mechanical properties, cellular attachment and cellular proliferation on scaffolds. Two treatments, pre-treatment with NaOH and incorporation of 10% gelatin into PLLA solution, both in combination with vacuum, resulted in significantly higher degrees of mineralization (16.55 and 15.14%, respectively) and better mineral distribution on surfaces and through the cross-sections after 2 h of exposure to 10×SBF. While both scaffold groups supported cell attachment and proliferation, 10% gelatin/PLLA scaffolds had significantly higher yield stress (1.73 vs 0.56 MPa) and elastic modulus (107 vs 44 MPa) than NaOH-pre-treated scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University, School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, 327 ICTAS Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andric
authors.forename: Lee D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Joseph W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D007700:Kinetics; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D051379:Mice; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D008903:Minerals; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; C020243:calcium phosphate