Preparation of a Plga-Coated Porous Bioactive Glass Scaffold With Improved Mechanical Properties for Bone Tissue Engineering Approaches Publisher



Valanezhad A¹ ; Shahabi S² ; Hashemian A² ; Davaie S² ; Nourani MR³ ; Abe S¹ ; Watanabe I¹ ; Behroozibakhsh M²
Source: Regenerative Engineering and Translational Medicine Published:2021

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of a sol-gel-derived bioactive glass (BG) foam scaffold by poly-lactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) coating as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. Methods: Polyurethane (PU) foam as the initial frame was submerged into a sol-gel-derived BG solution. The heat treatment process was carried out at 450°C to remove the PU foam and 860°C to consolidate the glass and remove the nitrate groups. The prepared BG scaffolds then were submerged into 10 and 15 wt% of PLGA solution. The uncoated BG scaffold was characterized by DTA/TGA, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The PLGA-coated scaffolds were characterized using SEM, and the mean compressive strength of the samples was measured. Results: The DTA/TGA and XRD pattern indicated the removal of all nitrate groups at the temperatures above 700°C and also crystallization of BG after 800°C. The mean compressive strength of 10% and 15% PLGA-coated scaffolds were obtained 1.36±0.39 and 1.95±0.70 MPa, respectively, while the uncoated samples were crushed before the test. The SEM images exhibited that in the coated samples, the BG struts were covered with a PLGA layer and the coated layer was thicker in 15% PLGA samples. The SEM images also revealed that the PLGA coating maintained the structure of the broken struts and prevented them from coming apart. Conclusion: Thus, based on the obtained results, the PLGA coating was successfully toughened the BG scaffold and improved its elasticity. Lay summary: The study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of a sol-gel derived bioactive glass (BG) foam scaffold by Poly-lactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) coating as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. Based on the results of this study, the PLGA coating can improve the elasticity and relieve the brittleness of sol-gel derived BG scaffold by supporting the fractured struts and prevent the scaffold from coming apart during a compressive strength test. Consequently, based on the obtained results a 15% PLGA-coated sol-gel derived BG scaffold can be considered as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. © 2021, The Regenerative Engineering Society.