Abstract
Three-dimensional 45S5 bioactive glass (BG)-based scaffolds are being investigated for bone regeneration. Besides structural properties, controlled time-dependent alteration of scaffold morphology is crucial to achieve optimal scaffold characteristics for successful bone repair. There is no in vitro evidence concerning the dependence between structural characteristics and dissolution behavior of 45S5 BG-based scaffolds of different morphology. In this study, the dissolution behavior of scaffolds fabricated by the foam replica method using polyurethane foam (Group A) and maritime sponge Spongia Agaricina (Group B) as sacrificial templates was analyzed by micro-computed-tomography (µCT). The scaffolds were immersed in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium for 56 days under static cell culture conditions and underwent µCT-analysis initially, and after 7, 14, and 56 days. Group A showed high porosity (91%) and trabecular structure formed by macro-pores (average diameter 692 µm ± 72 µm). Group-B-scaffolds were less porous (51%), revealing an optimal pore size distribution within the window of 110–500 µm pore size diameter, combined with superior mechanical stability. Both groups showed similar structural alteration upon immersion. Surface area and scaffold volume increased whilst density decreased, reflecting initial dissolution followed by hydroxycarbonate-apatite-layer-formation on the scaffold surfaces. In vitro- and/or in vivo-testing of cell-seeded BG-scaffolds used in this study should be performed to evaluate the BG-scaffolds’ time-dependent osteogenic properties in relation to the measured in vitro structural changes.
Highlights
Bone defect treatment remains one of the most demanding challenges in modern orthopedic surgery [1]
We evaluated the time-dependent structural characteristics and the in vitro dissolution behavior of two different types of three-dimensional 3D-45S5 bioactive glass (BG)-based scaffolds, namely scaffolds fabricated by the foam replica method using two types of sacrificial templates: polyurethane (PU) foam with 45 ppi and maritime natural sponge Spongia Agaricina
The tested 45S5 BG-based scaffolds exhibiting two distinct pore architectures showed similar structural changes over time: whilst volume and surface increased, density decreased over time
Summary
Bone defect treatment remains one of the most demanding challenges in modern orthopedic surgery [1]. Since the gold standard in therapy of bone defects—autologous bone grafting—is limited due to the amount of bone to harvest, synthetic bone substitutes are the most appropriate alternative [2]. Standard materials such as beta-tricalciumphosphate (ß-TCP) or hydroxyapatite (HA). 45S5 BG is osteoconductive and osteogenic, making it a Class A biomaterial This glass composition develops a hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) layer in physiological solutions and the HCA crystals, which should form in vivo and can connect with layers of collagen fibrils secreted by osteoblasts leading to strong bone-BG bonding [6,8,9]. A series of events take place at the surface of BG, including exchange of ions, condensation and repolymerization of a silanol layer, migration of Ca2+
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