In vitro osteoclast-like and osteoblast cells' response to electrospun calcium phosphate biphasic candidate scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Abstract

Successful long term bone replacement and repair remain a challenge today. Nanotechnology has made it possible to alter materials' characteristics and therefore possibly improve on the material itself. In this study, biphasic hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate nanobioceramic scaffolds were prepared by the electrospinning technique in order to mimic the extracellular matrix. Scaffolds were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared. Osteoblasts as well as monocytes that were differentiated into osteoclast-like cells, were cultured separately on the biphasic bioceramic scaffolds for up to 6 days and the proliferation, adhesion and cellular response were determined using lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay, nucleus and cytoskeleton dynamics, analysis of the cell cycle progression, measurement of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the detection of phosphatidylserine expression. SEM analysis of the biphasic bioceramic scaffolds revealed nanofibers spun in a mesh-like scaffold. Results indicate that the biphasic bioceramic electrospun scaffolds are biocompatible and have no significant negative effects on either osteoblasts or osteoclast-like cells in vitro.