Optimizing Barium Titanate Nanocomposite Bone Scaffolds for Biomineralization in Dynamic Compression Bioreactors Using Time-Lapsed Microstructural Imaging and Smart Thresholding

Bone scaffolds made of calcium phosphate polymer nanocomposites have limited osteoinductive properties. Piezoelectric materials attracted considerable interest in bone tissue engineering due to their potential promote osteogenesis through additional electrical stimulation. Time-lapsed micro-CT imaging is a time-effective tool for vitro optimization such but challenged by with high attenuation coefficient, as one containing amounts piezoelectric barium titanate. We used high-resolution end-point scans combined histology and Raman spectroscopy screen polydopamine functionalized 3–27 vol% titanate collagenous extracellular matrix formation mineralization. All compositions showed well-connected birefringent matured collagen after seven weeks static human mesenchymal stem cell cultures. Nevertheless, analysis smart thresholding during image processing enabled us observe modest differences ECM mineralization between groups suggesting that volume fraction 9–21% facilitated the dense mineral clusters pores even absence mechanical stimuli, further corroborated spectroscopy. The same approach time-lapsed images scaffold cultures dynamic compression bioreactors where 9 was best nanocomposite composition, resulting significant twofold increased maturation rate under conditions. On other hand, content ≥15 did not improve At 27 vol%, biomineralization impeded scaffolds, evidenced stainings. Overall, our enables quantitative assessment X-ray absorbing compression, facilitating mechanically responsive scaffolds.