Zn-substituted Mg2SiO4 nanoparticles-incorporated PCL-silk fibroin composite scaffold: A multifunctional platform towards bone tissue regeneration

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C Vol. 127; p. 112242
• Main Authors: Bigham, Ashkan, Salehi, Amin Orash Mahmoud, Rafienia, Mohammad, Salamat, Mohammad Reza, Rahmati, Shahram, Raucci, Maria Grazia, Ambrosio, Luigi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.08.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Biological activity; Biological properties; Bonding strength; Bone growth; Bone scaffold; Bones; Ceramic fibers; Composition effects; Electrospinning; Extracellular matrix; Fluorescence; Ion substitution; Materials science; Materials substitution; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Nanoparticles; Polycaprolactone; Polymers; Pore size; Porosity; Regeneration; Scaffolds; Silk; Silk fibroin; Sol-gel processes; Tissue engineering; Tissues; Zinc; Electrospinning; Silk fibroin; Ion substitution; Bone scaffold; Polycaprolactone
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112242

Electrospun porous bone scaffolds are known to imitate the extracellular matrix very well and provide an environment through which the tissue formation is enhanced. Although polymeric scaffolds have a great potential in bone tissue regeneration, their weak bioactivity (bone bonding ability) and mechanical properties have left room for improvement. Therefore, the present study focused on the developing a ternary multifunctional platform composed of polycaprolactone (PCL)/silk fibroin (SF)/Zn-substituted Mg2SiO4 nanoparticles for bone tissue regeneration. This study is composed of two connected sections including synthesis and characterization of Mg(2-x)ZnxSiO4, x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 through surfactant-assisted sol-gel technique followed by incorporation of the nanoparticles into PCL/SF hybrid scaffold via electrospinning technique. The weight ratios of polymers and ceramic nanoparticles were optimized to reach desirable textural—porosity, pore size, and fiber diameter—and mechanical properties. Having optimized the ternary scaffold, it was then undergone different physical, chemical, and biological tests in vitro. A precise comparison study between the ternary (PCL/SF/ceramic nanoparticles), binary (PCL/SF), and pure PCL was made to shed light on the effect of each composition on the applicability of ternary scaffold. The overall results confirmed that the Mg1Zn1SiO4 nanoparticles-incorporated PCL/SF scaffold with fluorescence property was the one yielding the highest Young's modulus and desirable textural properties. The ternary scaffold showed improved biological properties making it a promising candidate for further studies towards bone tissue regeneration. [Display omitted] •A sol-gel synthesis technique was deployed to yield Mg(2-x)ZnxSiO4, x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 for the first time.•The effects of Zn2+ on the physical and chemical properties of Mg2SiO4 were assessed.•The nanoparticles were incorporated into a hybrid electrospun scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.•The physical, chemical, and biological properties of electrospun scaffolds were assessed and compared carefully in vitro.•The composite compounds resulted in a multifunctional bone scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.