Development and characterization of zinc‐incorporated montmorillonite/poly(ε‐caprolactone) composite scaffold for osteogenic tissue‐engineering applications

• Published in: Polymer composites Vol. 39; no. S1; pp. E601 - E608
• Main Author: Koç Demir, Aysel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newtown Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-04-2018
• Subjects: Alkaline phosphatase; Biocompatibility; Biological properties; Biomedical materials; Cell culture; Clay minerals; Differentiation (biology); Gravimetric analysis; Incorporation; Infiltration; Ion concentration; Leaching; Montmorillonite; Polycaprolactone; Polymers; Scaffolds; Scanning electron microscopy; Scanning transmission electron microscopy; Stability analysis; Stem cells; Thermal stability; Tissue engineering; Zinc
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.24780

This article reveals the potential use of a macroporous 3D poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐zinc montmorillonite (PCL‐ZnMMT) composite scaffold as a bone tissue engineering template. The zinc‐incorporated porous scaffold was prepared by combining solvent casting and particulate leaching technique. Later, PCL‐ZnMMT composite scaffolds were characterized for their physicochemical, mechanical and in vitro biological properties. Human adipose stem cells (hASCs) were utilized for in vitro cell culture studies. Cell viability and proliferation of cell‐scaffold constructs were investigated using the Alamar Blue and Live/Dead‐staining assays. The osteogenic differentiation potential of hASCs on PCL‐ZnMMT scaffolds was evaluated by the alkaline phosphatase assay; Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize mineral accumulation. X‐ray diffraction results indicate that the incorporation of MMT into polymer matrix. Thermal gravimetric analysis showed that the presence of clay improves thermal stability of polymeric matrix. ICP findings showed that Zn ion concentration in the cell culture medium was at a sustainable range up to 7 days. SEM micrographs reveal that scaffold had a highly porous morphology and also the infiltration of cells into the porous structure. In vitro studies showed that the incorporation of Zn into the PCL‐MMT system stimulated the in vitro proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hASCs. Findings indicate that PCL‐ZnMMT scaffold composite may be a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E601–E608, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers