Flake-like glass nanoparticles reinforced natural polymeric scaffold as a promising substrate for bone regeneration

Abstract

Natural polymeric scaffolds with unique characteristics can be considered as the best candidates for tissue engineering applications. But improve the mechanical properties of these scaffolds is a critical factor. In the current study glass nanoparticles with a flake-like morphology were used as filler in the chitosan-alginate scaffold. To understand the effect of surface modification, silane groups were created on these nanoparticles. SEM, FTIR, TGA, and XRD were used for scaffolds characterization. Swelling, degradation and mechanical trials are the other analyses to scaffold examination. Grafting of silane on nanoparticles was successful and the grafting ratio was 2.2 wt%. Pore shape and size were changed by using pure and modified nanoparticles. The swelling and degradation trend of the scaffold had a decreasing manner by applying nanoparticles. The polymeric scaffold compression modulus has improved 2.09 times. Our results show that, although glass nanoparticles with plate structure can make scaffolds with better mechanical features the presence of other functionalities on their surface is the appropriate means to gain better mechanical behavior.