Porous and biodegradable polycaprolactone-borophosphosilicate hybrid scaffolds for osteoblast infiltration and stem cell differentiation

Dibakar Mondal; Shigang Lin; Amin S Rizkalla; Kibret Mequanint

doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.01.011

Porous and biodegradable polycaprolactone-borophosphosilicate hybrid scaffolds for osteoblast infiltration and stem cell differentiation

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2019 Apr:92:162-171. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.01.011. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Authors

Dibakar Mondal¹, Shigang Lin², Amin S Rizkalla³, Kibret Mequanint⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9; Bone and Joint Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 3K7.
² Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9.
³ Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9; Schulich Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9; Bone and Joint Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 3K7; School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9. Electronic address: arizkall@uwo.ca.
⁴ Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9; School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9. Electronic address: kmequani@uwo.ca.

PMID: 30710831
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.01.011

Abstract

The composition and microstructure of bone tissue engineering scaffolds play a significant role in regulating cell infiltration, proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix production. While boron is an essential trace element for bone formation, growth, and health, boron-containing biomaterials are poorly studied. Specifically, the effect of boron in hybrid scaffolds on stem cell differentiation is unknown. We have previously reported the synthesis and characterization of class II hybrid biomaterials from polycaprolactone and borophosphosilicate glass (PCL/BPSG). In this study, PCL/BPSG hybrid porous scaffolds were fabricated by a solvent-free casting and particulate leaching method having consistent pore-size distribution, controlled porosity, and pore interconnectivity. The mechanical properties with respect to porogen loading and degradation time demonstrated that these scaffolds were competent for bone tissue engineering applications. In cell culture experiments, significant number of cells infiltrated and adhered into the scaffolds interior. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiation to osteogenic lineage was dependent on the amount of boron incorporated into the hybrid scaffolds. Consistent with this, scaffolds containing 2-mol% boron (calculated as % of the inorganic component) had an optimum effect on lineage expressions for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN). These results suggest that PCL/BPSG hybrid scaffolds with optimum-level boron may enhance bone formation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

3T3 Cells
Animals
Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
Boron Compounds
Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
Mechanical Phenomena
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects*
Mice
Osteoblasts / cytology*
Osteoblasts / drug effects*
Phosphates / chemistry*
Polyesters / chemistry*
Polyesters / pharmacology*
Porosity
Silicates / chemistry*

Substances

Biocompatible Materials
Boron Compounds
Phosphates
Polyesters
Silicates
borophosphosilicate
polycaprolactone