title: Enhancement of mechanical strength and in vivo cytocompatibility of porous β-tricalcium phosphate ceramics by gelatin coating.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In an attempt to prepare scaffolds with porosity and compressive strength as high as possible, we prepared porous β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds and coated them with regenerative medicine-grade gelatin. The effects of the gelatin coating on the compressive strength and in vivo osteoblast compatibility were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Porous β-TCP scaffolds were prepared and coated with up to 3 mass% gelatin, and then subjected to thermal cross-linking. The gelatin-coated and uncoated scaffolds were then subjected to compressive strength tests and implantation tests into bone defects of Wistar rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The compressive strength increased by one order of magnitude from 0.45 MPa for uncoated to 5.1 MPa for gelatin-coated scaffolds. The osteoblast density in the internal space of the scaffold increased by 40 % through gelatin coating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coating porous bone graft materials with gelatin is a promising measure to enhance both mechanical strength and biomedical efficacy at the same time.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, 992-8510, Japan.|Tohoku Oral Implant Association, 1-7-42 Hachihon-matsu, Sendai, 980-0001, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshitake
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.affiliation: Tohoku Oral Implant Association, 1-7-42 Hachihon-matsu, Sendai, 980-0001, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minatoya
authors.affiliation: Kanagawa Dental College, 82 Inaoka, Yokosuka, 238-8580, Japan.|Tokyo Plastic Dental Society, 2-26-2 Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo, 114-0002, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshimitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okudera
authors.affiliation: Jellice Co., Ltd., 4-4-1, Sakae, Tagajo, 985-0833, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, 992-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, 992-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, 992-8510, Japan. unuma@yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp.|Tohoku Oral Implant Association, 1-7-42 Hachihon-matsu, Sendai, 980-0001, Japan. unuma@yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hidero
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Unuma
keywords: Compressive strength; Cytocompatibility; Gelatin; β-TCP