Author/Authors :
Aboudzadeh ، Neda Department of Materials Science and Engineering - Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) , Khavandi ، Alireza Department of Materials Science and Engineering - Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) , Javadpour ، Jafar Department of Materials Science and Engineering - Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) , Shokrgozar ، Mohammad Ali National Cell Bank of Iran - Pasteur Institute of Iran , Imani ، Mohammad 3Novel Drug Delivery Systems Department - Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute
Abstract :
Background: Solvent casting/particulate leaching is one of the most conventional methods for fabricating polymer/ceramic composite scaffolds. In this method, the solvent generally affects resulting scaffold properties, including porosity and degradation rate. Methods: Herein, composite scaffolds of PLGA/nHA with different percentages of nHA (25, 35, and 45 wt. %) were prepared by the solvent casting/particle leaching combined with freeze drying. The effects of two different solvents, DIO and NMP, on morphology, porosity, bioactivity, degradation rate, and biocompatibility of the resulting scaffolds were investigated. Results: The results revealed that increasing the nHA percentages had no significant effect on the porosity and interconectivity of scaffolds (p 0.05), whereas altering the solvent from DIO into NMP decreased the porosity from about 87% into 71%, respectively. Moreover, scaffolds of DIO illustrated the high results of cell proliferation compared to those of NMP; the cell viability of GD25 decreased from 85% to 65% for GN25. The findings also indicated that scaffolds prepared by NMP had a higher rate of losing weight in comparison to DIO. Adding nHA to PLGA had a significant effect on the bioactivity of scaffolds (p 0.05), composite scaffolds with 45 wt % nHA had at least 30% more weight gain compared to the neat polymer scaffolds. Conclusion: The DIO scaffolds have higher rates of porosity, interconnectivity, bioactivity, and biocompatibility than NMP scaffolds due to its high evaporation rate.
