Synthesis and Characterization of a Laminated Hydroxyapatite/Gelatin Nanocomposite Scaffold with Controlled Pore Structure for Bone Tissue Engineering

In this study, a nanostructured scaffold was designed for bone repair using hydroxyapatite (HA) and gelatin (GEL) as its main components. Nanopowders of HA were synthesized, and together with GEL, used to engineer a 3-dimensional nanocomposite combining 3 techniques of layer solvent casting, freeze-drying, and lamination. The results show that the scaffold possesses a 3-dimensional interconnected homogenous porous structure with a porosity of 82% and pore sizes ranging from 300 to 500 μm. It has also been shown that mechanical indices are in the range of spongy bones. Cultured osteoblast-like cells (SaOS-2) have shown an excellent level of cell attachment, migration, and penetration into the porosities of the nanocomposite scaffold. Here, we have shown that by a combination of widely available methods with simple experimental operations, nano-HA powders can be synthesized and used to make 3-dimensional HA/GEL nanocomposites in any desired shape, with mechanical properties comparable to spongy bone.