title: Bone scaffolds with homogeneous and discrete gradient mechanical properties.
abstract: Bone TE uses a scaffold either to induce bone formation from surrounding tissue or to act as a carrier or template for implanted bone cells or other agents. We prepared different bone tissue constructs based on collagen, gelatin and hydroxyapatite using genipin as cross-linking agent. The fabricated construct did not present a release neither of collagen neither of genipin over its toxic level in the surrounding aqueous environment. Each scaffold has been mechanically characterized with compression, swelling and creep tests, and their respective viscoelastic mechanical models were derived. Mechanical characterization showed a practically elastic behavior of all samples and that compressive elastic modulus basically increases as content of HA increases, and it is strongly dependent on porosity and water content. Moreover, by considering that gradients in cellular and extracellular architecture as well as in mechanical properties are readily apparent in native tissues, we developed discrete functionally graded scaffolds (discrete FGSs) in order to mimic the graded structure of bone tissue. These new structures were mechanically characterized showing a marked anisotropy as the native bone tissue. Results obtained have shown FGSs could represent valid bone substitutes.
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Research Center E. Piaggio, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jelen
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Research Center E. Piaggio, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science (DICCISM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Research Center E. Piaggio, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science (DICCISM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Let People Move Research Institute, Bioengineering Division, Arezzo, Italy; Nicola's Foundation Onlus, Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montemurro
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Research Center E. Piaggio, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science (DICCISM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Let People Move Research Institute, Bioengineering Division, Arezzo, Italy; Nicola's Foundation Onlus, Arezzo, Italy. Electronic address: carmelo.demaria@centropiaggio.unipi.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Maria
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattioli-Belmonte
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Research Center E. Piaggio, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science (DICCISM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vozzi
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D039823:Iridoids / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016062:Porosity; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D039823:Iridoids; D003094:Collagen; D017886:Durapatite; C007834:genipin