PLGA scaffold incorporated with hydroxyapatite for cartilage regeneration

There are many tissue-engineering approaches to repair damaged articular cartilage in vivo/vitro from cells and films/scaffolds. Polymer/bio-ceramic composite scaffold was applied to bone and cartilage regeneration for their mechanical stability and biocompatibility. In this study, the effects of hydroxyapatite on the surface of PLGA/HA composite scaffold for cell adhesion and proliferation have been investigated. The composite films, which were made of poly (d, l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as a matrix and hydroxyapatite (HA) particles as reinforcement, have been studied in vitro. Mechanical property of the composite film was characterized by tensile test. The ultimate tensile strength of 10 wt.% HA content film was two-fold higher than control group. Surface of the film was characterized by contact angle measurement and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The PLGA/HA composites were more hydrophilic than control group. Chondrocyte responses to the composite films were measured in vitro by cellular attachment and proliferation test. The cell attachment and proliferation were significantly higher on PLGA/HA (10 wt.%) composite film than control group (1.44 times higher in attachment test and 1.31 times higher for the 6th day at culture in proliferation assaying, p < 0.05).