Objective To fabricate a novel porous bioactivecomposite biomaterial consisting of poly lactic acid (PLA)bone matrix gelatin(BMG) by using the supercritical carbon dioxide fluid technique (SC-CO2) and to evaluate its osteoinductive activity. Methods The cortical bones selected from healthy adult donors were processed into BMG by the defatting, demineralizing, and deproteinizing processes. PLA and BMG were mixed at a volume radio of 3∶1; then, the PLA-BMG mixed material and the pure PLA material were respectively placed in the supercritical carbon dioxide reaction kettles, and were respectively added by the NaCl particles 100200 μm in diameter for theporosity of the materials so that the porous PLA-BMG composite material and the porous PLA composite material could be formed. The mouse osteoblastlike MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in the dulbecco’s modified eagle medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Then, 20 μl of the MC3T3E1 cell suspensions containing 2 ×106 cells /ml were delivered into the culturing plate (24 wells/plate) made of the different materials, which were co-cultured for 2 weeks. In the PLA-BMG group, 100 μg of the crushed PLA-BMG material was contained in each well; in the PLA group, 100 μg of the crushed PLA material was containedin each well; and in the DMEM group, only DMEM was contained, which served as the control group. There were 6 wells in each group. The quantitative analysis onthe calcification area was performed by the staining of the alizarin red S. Theco-cultured cells were harvested and lysated in 1 ml of 0.2% Nonidet P-40 by the ultrasonic lysating technique. Then, the ALP activity and the Ca content were measured according to the illuminations of the reagent kits. Results The porous PLABMG composite material showed a good homological porosity with a pore diameter of 50-150 μm and a good connectivity between the pores. The ALP activity, the Ca content, and the calcification area were significantly greater in the PLABMG group than in the PLA group and the control group (325.59±70.40 U/gprot, 3.51±1.64 mmol/gprot, 42.98±4.44% vs. 63.62±30.01 U/gprot, 1.04±0.21 mmol/gprot, 9.55±1.94%, and 2.40±1.47 U/gprot, 0.70±0.24 mmol/gprot, 0.86±0.41%; Plt;0.05). Meanwhile, there was a statistically significant difference between the PLA group and the control group in the ALP activity and the calcification area (Plt;0.05). Conclusion The porous PLABMG composite material prepared by the use of SC-CO2 has a good steoinductive activity and can be used as a promising bone biomaterial and a bone tissue engineered scaffold.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the biocompatibility of poly lactic acid/bone matrix gelatin (PLA/BMG) composite biomaterial so as to lay a foundation for bone defect repair. MethodsRats'MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured with leaching solution of PLA/BMG and PLA material respectively for 7 days. The cell proliferation rate was tested by MTT and cell toxicity grading was carried out everyday. The PLA/BMG and MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured, the cell shape and proliferation were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope at 1, 3, and 5 days and cell adhesion by scanning electron microscope at 5 days. The PLA and PLA/BMG were implanted subcutaneously in 15 Wistar rats. The histological observation was done, and the thickness of fibrous membrane, the number of inflammatory cells, and the vascularization area were measured at postoperative 2nd, 4th, and 8th week. ResultsThe tests for cytotoxicity in vitro showed that the cell proliferation rates were over 100% and the cell cytotoxic grades were grade 0 at 1-7 days in PLA/BMG group. While in PLA group, the cell proliferation rates were less than 100% and the cell cytotoxic grades were grade 1 at 2, 4, and 7 days. After co-culture of PLA/BMG and MC3T3-E1 cells, cells grew on the surface and in the pores of PLA/BMG, and the cellular morphology was triangle or polygon with abundant microvillus on the surface. After subcutaneous implantation, the rats survived to the end of experiment, and incision healed well. PLA was wrapped by connective tissue where there were a lot of lymphocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes. The cells and tissue grew slowly in PLA. The PLA/BMG materials were wrapped by little connective tissue where there were a few inflammatory cells. The connective tissue ingrowth was observed in the center of PLA/BMG. There was no significant difference in the thickness of fibrous membrane between 2 groups at each time point (P>0.05). The number of inflammatory cells of PLA/BMG group were significantly less than those in PLA group at 2, 4, and 8 weeks (P<0.05); the vascularization area was significantly larger than that in PLA group (P<0.05). ConclusionPLA/BMG composite biomaterials prepared by super critical-CO2 technique are good in cell and tissue biocompatibilty.