Biodegradation and cytocompatibility studies of a triphasic ceramic-coated porous hydroxyapatite for bone substitute applications

Abstract

Bone defects due to trauma or disease have led to the need for biomaterials as substitutes for tissue regeneration and repair. Herein, we introduce a porous triphasic ceramic-coated hydroxyapatite scaffold (HASi) for such applications. Interestingly, in the degradation experiments with isotonic buffer, HASi showed a significant release of silica with the disappearance of the tricalcium phosphate phase. Furthermore, the material also exhibited cytocompatibility with cultured bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells of human origin. The material chemistry, together with the favorable cellular characteristics, indicates HASi as a promising candidate for critical-size bony defects, which still remains a formidable clinical challenge in the orthopedic scenario.