Characterization and osteogenic activity of a silicatein/biosilica-coated chitosan-graft-polycaprolactone

Several attempts have been made in the past to fabricate hybrid materials that display the complementary properties of the polyester polycaprolactone (PCL) and the polysaccharide chitosan (CHS) for application in the field of bone regeneration and tissue engineering. However, such composites generally have no osteogenic activity per se. Here we report the synthesis of a chitosan-graft-polycaprolactone (CHS-g-PCL) and its subsequent characterization, including crystallinity, chemical structure and thermal stability. Upon surface-functionalization of CHS-g-PCL with osteogenic biosilica via the surface-immobilized enzyme silicatein, protein adsorption, surface morphology and wettability were assessed. Finally, the cultivation of osteoblastic SaOS-2 cells on the surface-functionalized CHS-g-PCL was followed by analyses of cell viability, mineral deposition and alkaline phosphatase activity. These characterizations revealed a composite that combines the versatile properties of CHS-g-PCL with the osteogenic activity of the silicatein/biosilica coating and, hence, represents an innovative alternative to conventionally used CHS/PCL composites for biomedical applications, where stable bone–material interfaces are required.