title: Osteogenic cell response to 3-D hydroxyapatite scaffolds developed via replication of natural marine sponges.
abstract: Bone tissue engineering may provide an alternative to autograft, however scaffold optimisation is required to maximize bone ingrowth. In designing scaffolds, pore architecture is important and there is evidence that cells prefer a degree of non-uniformity. The aim of this study was to compare scaffolds derived from a natural porous marine sponge (Spongia agaricina) with unique architecture to those derived from a synthetic polyurethane foam. Hydroxyapatite scaffolds of 1 cm(3) were prepared via ceramic infiltration of a marine sponge and a polyurethane (PU) foam. Human foetal osteoblasts (hFOB) were seeded at 1 × 10(5) cells/scaffold for up to 14 days. Cytotoxicity, cell number, morphology and differentiation were investigated. PU-derived scaffolds had 84-91% porosity and 99.99% pore interconnectivity. In comparison marine sponge-derived scaffolds had 56-61% porosity and 99.9% pore interconnectivity. hFOB studies showed that a greater number of cells were found on marine sponge-derived scaffolds at than on the PU scaffold but there was no significant difference in cell differentiation. X-ray diffraction and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry showed that Si ions were released from the marine-derived scaffold. In summary, three dimensional porous constructs have been manufactured that support cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation but significantly more cells were seen on marine-derived scaffolds. This could be due both to the chemistry and pore architecture of the scaffolds with an additional biological stimulus from presence of Si ions. Further in vivo tests in orthotopic models are required but this marine-derived scaffold shows promise for applications in bone tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University of Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK. s.a.clarke@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Ashby Building, 121 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University of Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKechnie
authors.affiliation: Engineering Research Institute, School of Engineering, Ulster University, Jordanstown Campus, Shore Rd, Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Ashby Building, 121 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK.|School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Ashby Building, 121 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Ashby Building, 121 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Ashby Building, 121 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011161:Porifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017886:Durapatite