Biomimetic design of bone substitutes based on cuttlefish bone-derived hydroxyapatite and biodegradable polymers.

Being a major component of bone tissue, hydroxyapatite is the most investigated calcium phosphate in the design and development of bone implants. The high brittleness and poor load-bearing properties have led researchers to manipulate hydroxyapatite performance by applying polymer or metal materials. The present study focuses on biomimetic approach of the hydroxyapatite synthesis from the cuttlefish bone in order to preserve highly porous structure. The low stiffness of hydroxyapatite scaffold was altered by thin polycaprolactone/poly(lactic acid) coating, resulting in remarkably 18-fold increase of Young's modulus. The mechanical test revealed that poly(lactic acid) increases the stiffness of composite scaffolds which depends on the polycaprolactone/poly(lactic acid) volume ratio. The composite scaffolds are bioactive supporting the deposition of new calcium phosphates when incubated in simulated physiological medium for 21 days. Moreover, the culture of human embryonic kidney cells indicated non-cytotoxicity of the composite scaffolds with emphasis on the cell proliferation during three days of culture. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 107B: 197-204, 2019.

PCL-coated hydroxyapatite scaffold derived from cuttlefish bone: morphology, mechanical properties and bioactivity.

In the present study, poly(ε-caprolactone)-coated hydroxyapatite scaffold derived from cuttlefish bone was prepared. Hydrothermal transformation of aragonitic cuttlefish bone into hydroxyapatite (HAp) was performed at 200°C retaining the cuttlebone architecture. The HAp scaffold was coated with a poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) using vacuum impregnation technique. The compositional and morphological properties of HAp and PCL-coated HAp scaffolds were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Bioactivity was tested by immersion in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and mechanical tests were performed at compression. The results showed that PCL-coated HAp (HAp/PCL) scaffold resulted in a material with improved mechanical properties that keep the original interconnected porous structure indispensable for tissue growth and vascularization. The compressive strength (0.88MPa) and the elastic modulus (15.5MPa) are within the lower range of properties reported for human trabecular bones. The in vitro mineralization of calcium phosphate (CP) that produces the bone-like apatite was observed on both the pure HAp scaffold and the HAp/PCL composite scaffold. The prepared bioactive scaffold with enhanced mechanical properties is a good candidate for bone tissue engineering applications.

PCL-coated hydroxyapatite scaffold derived from cuttlefish bone: in vitro cell culture studies.

In the present study, we examined the potential of using highly porous poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-coated hydroxyapatite (HAp) scaffold derived from cuttlefish bone for bone tissue engineering applications. The cell culture studies were performed in vitro with preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells in static culture conditions. Comparisons were made with uncoated HAp scaffold. The attachment and spreading of preosteoblasts on scaffolds were observed by Live/Dead staining Kit. The cells grown on the HAp/PCL composite scaffold exhibited greater spreading than cells grown on the HAp scaffold. DNA quantification and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed a good proliferation of cells on the scaffolds. DNA content on the HAp/PCL scaffold was significantly higher compared to porous HAp scaffolds. The amount of collagen synthesis was determined using a hydroxyproline assay. The osteoblastic differentiation of the cells was evaluated by determining alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and collagen type I secretion. Furthermore, cell spreading and cell proliferation within scaffolds were observed using a fluorescence microscope.