title: Injectable scaffolds for bone regeneration.
abstract: Clinical treatments of significant bone defects involve invasive procedures such as the application of auto- and allografts. These procedures present many limitations including the potential for infection and rejection. There is therefore a need to develop novel therapeutic strategies able to exploit the natural regenerative potential of bone and that can be delivered in a less invasive manner. Among the materials studied for the development of novel scaffolds, stimuli-responsive gels containing hydroxyapatite and carbon nanotubes as nanofillers have generated great interest. In the present work, chitosan gels containing chitosan grafted CNTs and chitosan-hydroxyapatite complex have been formed by cross-linking with glycerol phosphate. The addition of the nanofillers afforded hydrogels with a faster sol/gel transition at 37 °C and enhanced mechanical properties. The thermosensitive composite gels also showed a good bioactivity profile associated with potential for the prolonged delivery of protein drugs. The inclusion of chemically cross-linked CNTs and HA in thermosensitive gels afforded injectable composite materials with enhanced properties, including reduction of gelation time, improved mechanical properties, good bioactivity, and prolonged drug release.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Portsmouth , St. Michael's Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasmeen
authors.forename: Man Kit
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Salina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bajracharya
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roldo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D065546:Drug Liberation; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry; D005612:Freeze Drying; D007267:Injections; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D048271:Chitosan; D017886:Durapatite