title: Monolithic and assembled polymer-ceramic composites for bone regeneration.
abstract: The rationale for the use of polymer-ceramic composites for bone regeneration stems from the natural composition of bone, with collagen type I and biological apatite as the main organic and inorganic constituents, respectively. In the present study composite materials of PolyActive™ (PA), a poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephtalate) co-polymer, and hydroxyapatite (HA) at a weight ratio of 85:15 were prepared by rapid prototyping (RP) using two routes. In the first approach pre-extruded composite filaments of PA-HA were processed using three-dimensional fibre deposition (3DF) (conventional composite scaffolds). In the second approach PA scaffolds were fabricated using 3DF and combined with HA pillars produced inside stereolithographic moulds that fitted inside the pores of the PA three-dimensional structure (assembled composite scaffolds). Analysis of calcium and phosphate release in a simulated physiological solution, not containing calcium or phosphate, revealed significantly higher values for the HA pillars compared with other scaffolds. Release in simulated body fluid saturated with respect to HA did not show significant differences among the different scaffolds. Human mesenchymal stromal cells were cultured on polymer (3DF), conventional composite (3DF-HA) and assembled composite (HA assembled in 3DF) scaffolds and assessed for morphology, metabolic activity, DNA amount and gene expression of osteogenic markers using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the cells attached to and infiltrated all the scaffolds. Assembled composites had a higher metabolic activity compared with 3DF-HA scaffolds while no significant differences were observed in DNA amounts. Gene expression of osteopontin in the assembled composite was significantly higher compared with the conventional composites. The strategy of composite fabrication by assembly appears to be a promising alternative to the conventional composite fabrication route for scaffolds for bone regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Regeneration, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anandkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nandakumar
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Anouk
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mentink
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tahmasebi Birgani
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Blitterswijk
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Habibovic
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002516:Ceramics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008903:Minerals; D010710:Phosphates; D011108:Polymers; D002118:Calcium