Polycaprolactone fibrillar scaffolds containing nanohydroxyapatite for induction of osteogenesis: characterization and cytocompatibility in osteoblast culture

• Grant number: 22/01378-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Taisa Nogueira Pansani
• Grantee: Ana Clara Ribeiro Nicodemo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Scaffolds based on polymers indicated for bone regeneration aim to mimic the structure and function of the extracellular matrix, being as support for cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. The incorporation of molecules, such as hydroxyapatite, can improve both mechanical and biological properties, inducing the differentiation, mineralization, and new bone formation since it is a bioactive osteoconductive material. Therefore, the aims of this project are to manufacture and characterize polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds containing different concentrations of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHA), as well as to determine the cytocompatibility and osteogenic potential of these biomaterials on osteoblasts obtained from mice (MC3T3). The NHS will be incorporated into the PCL nanofibers at 2.5% and 5% concentrations, and then structural characterization tests will be performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The thickness of the fibers and the porosity of the scaffolds will be measured, and the morphology and chemical composition will be performed by Dispersive Energy Spectroscopy (EDS). Besides the concentration of calcium release, the scaffolds will be also submitted to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis. MC3T3 cells will be cultured on scaffolds' surface (3x104 cell/scaffold) and then their viability (Alamar Blue, n=8), total protein synthesis (PT, n=8), alkaline phosphatase synthesis (ALP, n=8), and the formation of mineralization nodules (NM, n=8) will be assessed. Quantitative data will be assessed for normality and homoscedasticity tests, and then appropriate statistical tests will be selected, considering a significance level of 5%.(AU)