Nanocomposite Polymer Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Nanocomposite polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering were prepared using leaching method. As a porogen there were used phosphate salts with different grain size (100-400 mu m). Nanocomposite materials based on polylactide (PL/DLA) containing 2 wt% of ceramic bioactive nanoadditives (SiO2) were prepared. The nanoadditive was characterized by dynamic light scatering (DLS) (size) and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (specific surface area) methods. Morphology of the nanoparticles was observed using the transmission electron microscopy. The optimal concentration of the nanofiller in the polymer matrix was evaluated on the basis of in vitro tests of the nanocomposite foils contacted with osteoblast-like human cells of MG63 line. The morphology and porosity of the scaffold after leaching was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and hydrostatic weighing. The bioactivity test made on the scaffolds demonstrated ability to nucleation of apatite structure on the material.