Design of 3D Hybrid Composite Scaffolds: Effect of Composition on Scaffold Structure and Cell Proliferation

摘要

The aim of this study was to develop multi-phase composite 3D scaffolds and to investigate the in vitro degradation performance, the cell seeding capacity and cells proliferation onto/into the composite scaffolds. Multi-phase composite scaffolds were formulated by solvent casting and particulate leaching technique, hydroxyapatite (HAP) was used to improve the mechanical properties of poly[(DL-lactide)-coglycolide] (PLGA) polymer scaffold, while chitosan (CTS) was added to the formulation for its bioactivity, osteoconductivity and bioadhesive properties. The in vitro degradation results demonstrated that the composite scaffold had a degradation rate correlating with their composition and structural features. Adult fibroblast cells were seeded on the surface of the composite scaffolds. Cell viability and long-term proliferation onto/into composite scaffolds were evaluated. The results showed that viable cells attached on the surface of scaffolds gradually migrated into the porous scaffold. These results suggest that the two-phase scaffold, namely PLGA/HAP and PLGA/CTS composite scaffolds, are promising grafts for bone tissue engineering. Further studies are in progress to design an improved three-phase composite construct obtained combining PLGA, HAP and CTS in a wafer-like scaffold.