Novel approach to fabricate porous gelatin–siloxane hybrids for bone tissue engineering

Porous and bioactive gelatin–siloxane hybrids were successfully synthesized by using a combined sol–gel processing, post-gelation soaking, and freeze-drying process to provide a novel kind of materials in the developments and optimization of bone tissue engineering. The pore sizes of the hybrids can be well controlled by varying the freezing temperature. The scaffolds were soaked in a simulated body fluid (SBF) up to 14 days to evaluate the in vitro bioactivity. The Ca2+-containing scaffolds showed in vitro bioactivity as they biomimetically deposited apatite, but the Ca2+-free scaffolds failed. Cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility of those scaffolds and their extracts were monitored by the MC3T3-E1 cell responses, including the cell proliferation and the alkaline phosphatase activity. It was demonstrated that appropriate incorporation of Ca2+ ions stimulated osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in vitro.