Airbrushed composite polymer Zr-ACP nanofiber scaffolds with improved cell penetration for bone tissue regeneration

Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2015 Mar;21(3):284-91. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2014.0236. Epub 2014 Oct 7.

Abstract

Electrospun polymer nanofibers have multiple applications in the tissue engineering field despite limited cell penetration within the scaffolds and slow synthesis rates. Airbrushing, a proposed alternative to traditional electrospinning, is a technique capable of synthesizing open structure nanofiber scaffolds at high rates. In this study, three biocompatible polymers-poly-D,L-lactic acid (P-DL-LA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), were airbrushed to form networks for bone tissue regeneration. All three polymers were loaded with up to 20% (w/w) zirconium-modified amorphous calcium phosphate (Zr-ACP). A simple one-step mix and straightforward material deposition yielded open structure networks with well-distributed Zr-ACP. Cell penetration within the airbrushed scaffolds was found to be more than twice the cell penetration within conventional electrospun networks. The airbrushed polymer network supported cell growth and differentiation. Cells grown on the Zr-ACP in P-DL-LA fibers exhibited improved levels of osteocalcin protein with an increase in the Zr-ACP content by day 16. This airbrushing method promises to be a viable and attractive alternative to currently used electrospinning techniques in the formation of composite 3D nanofiber scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Regeneration / drug effects*
  • Calcium Phosphates / pharmacology*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lactic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Osteocalcin / metabolism
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers / pharmacology*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*
  • Zirconium / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Calcium Phosphates
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • amorphous calcium phosphate
  • Osteocalcin
  • Lactic Acid
  • poly(lactide)
  • DNA
  • Zirconium