title: In vitro comparative study of white and dark polycaprolactone trifumarate in situ cross-linkable scaffolds seeded with rat bone marrow stromal cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dark poly(caprolactone) trifumarate is a successful candidate for use as a bone tissue engineering scaffold. Recently, a white polymeric scaffold was developed that shows a shorter synthesis time and is more convenient for tissue-staining work. This is an in vitro comparative study of both the white and dark scaffolds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both white and dark poly(caprolactone) trifumarate macromers were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy before being chemically cross-linked and molded into disc-shaped scaffolds. Biodegradability was assessed by percentage weight loss on days 7, 14, 28, 42 and 56 (n = 5) after immersion in 10% serum-supplemented medium or distilled water. Static cell seeding was employed in which isolated and characterized rat bone marrow stromal cells were seeded directly onto the scaffold surface. Seeded scaffolds were subjected to a series of biochemical assays and scanning electron microscopy at specified time intervals for up to 28 days of incubation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degradation of the white scaffold was significantly lower compared with the dark scaffold but was within the acceptable time range for bone-healing processes. The deoxyribonucleic acid and collagen contents increased up to day 28 with no significant difference between the two scaffolds, but the glycosaminoglycan content was slightly higher in the white scaffold throughout 14 days of incubation. Scanning electron microscopy at day 1 [corrected] revealed cellular growth and attachment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no cell growth advantage between the two forms, but the white scaffold had a slower biodegradability rate, suggesting that the newly synthesized poly(caprolactone) trifumarate is more suitable for use as a bone tissue engineering scaffold.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. bistari@um.edu.my
authors: Kama Bistari
authors: KB
authors: Muhammad
authors: Wan Abu Bakar Wan
authors: WA
authors: Abas
authors: Kah Hwi
authors: KH
authors: Kim
authors: Belinda
authors: B
authors: Pingguan-Murphy
authors: Norita Mohd
authors: NM
authors: Zain
authors: Haris
authors: H
authors: Akram
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003116:Color; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D008422:Materials Testing; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C506476:poly(caprolactone fumarate)