Abstract
The development of tissue engineering in the field of orthopedic surgery is booming. Two fields of research in particular have emerged: approaches for tailoring the surface properties of implantable materials with osteoinductive factors as well as evaluation of the response of osteogenic cells to these fabricated implanted materials (hybrid material). In the present study, we chemically grafted insulin onto the surface of hydroxyapatite nanorods (nHA). The insulin-grafted nHAs (nHA-I) were dispersed into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer solution, which was electrospun to prepare PLGA/nHA-I composite nanofiber scaffolds. The morphology of the electrospun nanofiber scaffolds was assessed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). After extensive characterization of the PLGA/nHA-I and PLGA/nHA composite nanofiber scaffolds by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the PLGA/nHA-I and PLGA/nHA (used as control) composite nanofiber scaffolds were subjected to cell studies. The results obtained from cell adhesion, alizarin red staining, and Von Kossa assay suggested that the PLGA/nHA-I composite nanofiber scaffold has enhanced osteoblastic cell growth, as more cells were proliferated and differentiated. The fact that insulin enhanced osteoblastic cell proliferation will open new possibilities for the development of artificial scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration.
Highlights
Polymeric fibers have been fabricated using various techniques such as self-assembly, phase separation, melt spinning, and electrospinning
No remarkable change was observed in the morphology of pristine PLGA, PLGA/nHA, or PLGA/nHA-I composite nanofiber scaffolds
More cells were differentiated on the PLGA/nHA-I composite nanofiber scaffold (Figure 10c, dark red color) compared to the PLGA/nHA composite (Figure 10b, light red color) and pristine PLGA (Figure 10a, grayish color) nanofiber scaffolds. These results suggest that grafting of insulin on the nHA surface accelerated the differentiation of osteoblastic cells [38]
Summary
Polymeric fibers have been fabricated using various techniques such as self-assembly, phase separation, melt spinning, and electrospinning. Fibrous scaffolds prepared via electrospinning exhibit unique properties such as a high surface area-to-volume ratio, ultrafine uniform fibers, having high porosity and variable pore size distribution within the intra-fibrous structure [4]. These properties serve to enhance the biocompatibility and Inorganic nanomaterials such as nanotubes, nanocrystals, nanorods, nanospheres, nanoparticles, and nanofibers have unique properties, which cannot be achieved by using pristine polymers. HA is among one of the widely used bioceramic material having similar composition and morphology to the inorganic component of natural bone [12] It can provide a favorable environment for cell adhesion, osteoconduction, and osteoinduction
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