Enhanced bioactivity of osteoblast-like cells on poly(lactic acid)/poly(methyl methacrylate)/nano-hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Bone tissue engineering has great potential but requires an appropriate substrate with good bioactivity. In this study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) hybrid nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated via electrospinning. The morphologies of the scaffolds were observed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and the structures of the scaffolds were measured by fourier transform infrared spectrum. After immersion in simulated body fluid, the more deposition of ball-like apatite can be observed on the surface of the hybrid PLA/PMMA/n-HA scaffold. In vitro degradation experiments showed that the less degradation occurred in the hybrid PLA/PMMA/n-HA scaffold. The studies of cell adhesion and growth capability were investigated by incubating the osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) in the scaffolds, which verified the addition of n-HA could promote the adhesion and proliferation of the Human osteoblast-like cells (MG-63). Hence, the electrospun hybrid PLA/PMMA/n-HA nanofibrous scaffold is a promising biomaterial, propitious to be a substrate for bone tissue engineering.