Evaluation of PLLA-ECM based electrospun scaffolds as biomaterials for bone regeneration

Abstract

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is secreted by the host tissue and is an important key for mechanisms of cell responses. The decellularization process of the bone tissue generates a bone decellularized extracellular matrix which can be used for tissue engineering as hydrogels or as scaffolds. The main properties of these ECM materials include: biodegradation and biocompatibility, nanostructured in a 3D fiber network. It is composed of important molecules like: growth factors, glycosaminoglycan, collagen, fibronectin, and lamin, while final composition depends on the native tissue. We have studied the ECM digestion from pepsin, trypsin and collagenase and incorporated these ECM digestion products in order to produce PLLA-ECM based electrospun scaffolds by two different methodologies. This study proposes the evaluation of the materials produced as scaffolds for tissue engineering, more specifically for bone regeneration. To access the biomaterial ability on bone repair we would access the mesenchymal stem cells (from bone marrow) responses to the materials towards the osteogenesis process, analyzing the protein expression, the gene expression and mineral nodules formation. Some of the techniques that would be used are Western blot, quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), Immunocytochemistry, Alkalyne Phosphatase, Alizarin Red Stainning, SEM, TEM, Micro-Raman Spectroscopy. (AU)