Reinforcing MgO nanoparticles with 3D printed sodium alginate/silk
fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol/nano-hydroxyapatite composite structure
enhanced biomimetic potential for defect bone tissue repair.
Abstract
The current research investigates the effect of reinforcing magnesium
oxide nanoparticles (n-MgO) on the physico-chemical, mechanical, and
cellular activities of our previously developed three-dimensional
printed sodium alginate (SA)/silk fibroin (SF)/polyvinyl alcohol
(PVA)/nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) composite scaffold with optimized
composition containing SA/SF:70:30 (v/v) with 3wt% PVA tri-polymer
ratio and 1.5wt% n-HA designated as SA 70/SF
30/PVA 3/n-HA 1.5 proven
to be a suitable matrix for bone tissue engineering application. The
chemically synthesized n-MgO was incorporated at two different
concentrations of 0.5 wt% and 1 wt% into the SA/SF/PVA/n-HA solution
and the resulting composite bioinks were used to fabricate 3D printed
scaffolds as SA 70/SF 30/PVA
3/n-HA 1.5/n-MgO 0.5 and
SA 70/SF 30/PVA 3/n-HA
1.5/n-MgO 1. The scaffolds possess a
microfibrous interconnected porous network with desired pore sizes
ranging from 384±74µm and 362±57µm. The tensile strength measuring
4.09±1.13 MPa and 5.08±1.14 MPa for SA 70/SF
30/PVA 3/n-HA 1.5/n-MgO
0.5 and SA 70/SF 30/PVA
3/n-HA 1.5/n-MgO 1 was
enhanced upon reinforcing n-MgO matching with the mechanical strength of
a cancellous bone and suitable for bone tissue regeneration under the
load condition. In-vitro cell studies performed with HOS cells
have shown the cytocompatible properties of the SA 70/SF
30/PVA 3/n-HA 1.5/n-MgO
1 scaffold. The up-regulation of ALP activity indicated
that the scaffold might support superior osteoblast function and
differentiation.