Investigation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Adhesion and Diffusion into Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Hydroxyapatite Porous Scaffold Coated with a Biodegradable Triblock Copolymer

The scaffolds for bone tissue engineering should consider the functional requirements: porosity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this study, porous Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Hydroxyapatite composites were prepared with different weight ratios. Porous samples were fabricated by freeze-extraction method, coated with triblock copolymer and sterilized by UV. Then, human mesenchymal stem cells were cultured on scaffolds. Microstructural studies with SEM suggest the formation of about 50 micrometer size porous structure and interconnected porosity so that cells adhesion within the structure is well in depth in coated samples. DAPI fluorescence microscopy showed cells adhesion to the coated scaffolds and cells diffusion into the pores. Also, direct assay of cell proliferation performed with MTT test showed that, cells grew on the scaffold similar to or more than control samples result. Therefore, these findings suggest that the triblock-coated Poly (lactic-coglycolic acid)/ Hydroxyapatite porous composite scaffolds could provide cells adhesion and proliferation and are appropriate matrices for bone tissue engineering.