This work focuses on the analysis of structural and functional properties of calcium phosphate (CaP) incorporated bacterial cellulose (BC)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) based hydrogel scaffolds referred to as "CaP/BC-PVP". CaP is incorporated in the scaffolds in the form of hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) in different concentrations (β-TCP: HA (w/w) = 20:80, 40:60, and 50:50). The scaffolds were characterized on the basis of porosity, thermal, biodegradation, mechanical, and cell viability/cytocompatibility properties. The structural properties of all the hydrogel scaffolds show significant porosity. The biodegradation of "CaP/BC-PVP" scaffold was evaluated following hydrolytic degradation. Weight loss profile, pH change, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) study confirm the significant degradability of the scaffolds. It is observed that a 50:50_CaP/BC-PVP scaffold has the highest degree of degradation. On the other hand, the compressive strengths of CaP/BC-PVP hydrogel scaffolds are found between 0.21 to 0.31 MPa, which is comparable with the human trabecular bone. The cell viability study is performed with a human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell line, where significant cell viability is observed in all the hydrogel scaffolds. This indicated their ability to facilitate cell growth and cell proliferation. Considering all these substantial properties, CaP/BC-PVP hydrogel scaffolds can be suggested for detailed investigation in the context of bone regeneration application.

• Keywords
• bacterial cellulose, bone regeneration, calcium phosphate, degradation, hydrogel scaffolds, mechanical property,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The principal focus of this work is the in-depth analysis of the biological efficiency of inorganic calcium-filled bacterial cellulose (BC) based hydrogel scaffolds for their future use in bone tissue engineering/bioengineering. Inorganic calcium was filled in the form of calcium phosphate (β-tri calcium phosphate (β-TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA)) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). The additional calcium, CaCO₃ was incorporated following in vitro bio-mineralization. Cell viability study was performed with the extracts of BC based hydrogel scaffolds: BC-PVP, BC-CMC; BC-PVP-β-TCP/HA, BC-CMC-β-TCP/HA and BC-PVP-β-TCP/HA-CaCO₃, BC-CMC-β-TCP/HA-CaCO₃; respectively. The biocompatibility study was performed with two different cell lines, i.e., human fibroblasts, Lep-3 and mouse bone explant cells. Each hydrogel scaffold has facilitated notable growth and proliferation in presence of these two cell types. Nevertheless, the percentage of DNA strand breaks was higher when cells were treated with BC-CMC based scaffolds i.e., BC-CMC-β-TCP/HA and BC-CMC-β-TCP/HA-CaCO₃. On the other hand, the apoptosis of human fibroblasts, Lep-3 was insignificant in BC-PVP-β-TCP/HA. The scanning electron microscopy confirmed the efficient adhesion and growth of Lep-3 cells throughout the surface of BC-PVP and BC-PVP-β-TCP/HA. Hence, among all inorganic calcium filled hydrogel scaffolds, 'BC-PVP-β-TCP/HA' was recommended as an efficient tissue engineering scaffold which could facilitate the musculoskeletal (i.e., bone tissue) engineering/bioengineering.

• Keywords
• DNA damage, apoptosis, bacterial cellulose, biocompatibility, bone tissue engineering, in vitro bio-mineralization,
• MeSH
• Cellulose chemistry   MeSH
• Hydrogels chemistry   MeSH
• Durapatite chemistry   MeSH
• Bone and Bones cytology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Tissue Engineering methods   MeSH
• Tissue Scaffolds chemistry   MeSH
• Calcium chemistry   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cellulose MeSH
• Hydrogels MeSH
• Durapatite MeSH
• Calcium MeSH