Comparative Study on Bioactive Filler/Biopolymer Scaffolds for Potential Application in Supporting Bone Tissue Regeneration

The combination of biopolymers and bioactive inorganic particles for bone tissue regeneration has been investigated in the last decades. However, several studies report discordant results on specific synergistic effect compounds. A comparative study porous scaffolds obtained by most promising is herein reported. Specifically, have fabricated Thermally Induced Phase Separation method using poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(caprolactone) (PCL) compounded with hydroxyapatite (HAp), calcium silicate (CS), or a Mg- Sr-rich bioglass (BG) nominal composition 2.3% Na2O, K2O, 25.6% CaO, 10.0% MgO, SrO, 2.6% P2O5, 47.2% SiO2. Morphological analyses revealed formation highly interconnected aligned open pores. Both thermal investigations compressive tests highlight close similarity between PLA- PHBV-based terms amorphous structure stiffness when fillers are added. On other hand, addition BG semicrystalline PCL shows decrease crystallinity degree polymer consequent modulus. Preliminary vitro (direct indirect contact tests) carried out composite systems that all prepared materials provide an appropriate environment NIH 3T3 cell adhesion proliferation, showing total lack cytotoxicity. overall positive viability (Neutral Red uptake), metabolic activity (MTT test). Interestingly, this particularly evident whenever both BGs polymers, such as PLA PHBV, seems to be responsible creating best microenvironmental cue attachment proliferation.