Osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs on porous photo-crosslinked poly(trimethylene carbonate) and nano-hydroxyapatite composites

Large bone defects are challenging to repair and novel implantable materials needed aid in their reconstruction. Research the past years has proven beneficial effect of porosity an implant on osteogenesis vivo. Building this research we report here porous composites based photo-crosslinked poly(trimethylene carbonate) nano-hydroxyapatite. These were prepared by a temperature induced phase separation macromers from solution ethylene carbonate. By controlling carbonate content viscous dispersions nano-hydroxyapatite macromer solutions, with 40 wt% 27 71% prepared. The surface structure these was affected topography became dominated deep micro-pore channels majority pore widths below 20 µm rougher surfaces nano-scale. stiffness toughness decreased increasing 67 3.5 MPa 263 2.2 N/mm2, respectively. In cell culture experiments, human marrow mesenchymal stem cells proliferated well irrespective porosity. Furthermore, differentiation demonstrated determination ALP activity calcium production. extent films, offering reduced mechanical incentive for osteogenic at higher porosities topographies likely possibility aggregate elongate into morphologies favourable differentiation. This ultimately resulted 3-fold reduction production differentiated compared those 27%