Bone Scaffold Biomimetics Based on Gelatin Hydrogel Mineralization

Abstract

Apatite phase Calcium and Magnesium Phosphate doped nanocomposite scaffold has been synthesized in physiological environment by gelatin hydrogel double diffusion technique. Several analytical methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied to characterize physicochemical properties of the studied samples.The results showed that nanocomposite scaffolds were porous with three-dimensionally interconnected microstructure, pore size ranging from 200 to 300 μm nanocrystalline precipitated minerals were dispersed evenly among gelatin fibers. A mineral containing amorphous calcium phosphate and brushite precipitate was formed within the gelatin matrix at 4°C. After incubation in SBF solution at 37°C for 7 days, the mineral phase was changed to nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite. It should be well-known that precursor phases inside a scaffold implanted into the bone are equal to biomimetic adaptation of precursors to hydroxyapatite that is very similar to the bone and has an attentive level of biocompatibility. Therefore, the result confirms the significance of biomimetic calcium and magnesium phosphate bone tissue scaffolds in developing new biomaterials for bone regeneration.