High surface area biopolymeric-ceramic scaffolds for hard tissue engineering

The development of scaffolds mimicking native bone tissue composition and structure is a challenge in bone tissue engineering. 3D scaffolds with both an interconnected macropore structure and nanotextured surfaces are required. However, 3D scaffolds processed by microfabrication usually lack of nanotextured surface, while nanotextured materials generated by bottom-up nanofabrication are difficult to process conforming scaffolds…

In vitro stimulation of MC3T3-E1cells and sustained drug delivery by a hierarchical nanostructured SiO2-CaO-P2O5 scaffold

A hierarchical scaffold, SP1_h_HA, consisting of a biomimetic nano-hydroxyapatite surface coating growth onto a reticulated structure having a nano-organized porous texture was fabricated and functionally studied in vitro using osteoprogenitor cells. Three scaffold materials (designated as SP0_l, SP0_h and SP1_h) were also prepared through modifications of the processing variables as control materials. The scaffolds were characterized showing well-interconnected…

Reticulated bioactive scaffolds with improved textural properties for bone tissue engineering: Nanostructured surfaces and porosity

Organised nanoporous SBA-15 type silica precursor (SP) particulate material has been processed into three-dimensional macroporous, reticulated structures using a novel strategy consisting of blending increasing percentages of SP with a SiO2-CaO-P2O5 (80Si15Ca5P) mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) sol. The procedure successfully produced consolidated and functionally competent open-cell scaffolds while preserving the nanoporous order of the SP.…

Tuning of Cell–Biomaterial Anchorage for Tissue Regeneration

Which mechanisms mediate cell attachment to biomaterials? What role does the surface charge or wettability play on cell–material anchorage? What are the currently investigated strategies to modify cell–matrix adherence spatiotemporally? Considering the development of scaffolds made of biocompatible materials to temporarily replace the structure and/or function of the extracellular matrix, focus is given to the…

Nanoporous silica microparticle interaction with toll-like receptor agonists in macrophages

Nanoporous silica microparticles (NSiO2-MP) are considered to be potential drug delivery systems and scaffolding platforms in tissue engineering. However, few biocompatibility studies regarding NSiO2-MP interaction with the immune system have been reported. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are involved in host defence as well as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The results show that NSiO2-MP up to 100…