Synthesis of PLA/SBA-15 Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract Composite materials are used in bone tissue engineering because they mimic the structure of the extracellular matrix of bone. In this work, polylactic acid (PLA) fiber scaffolds prepared by air-jet spinning technique, were doped with different concentrations of SBA-15 ceramic (0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 wt%). The SBA-15 ceramic powder was made by the Sol-Gel process. Physicochemical characterization of PLA, SBA-15, and composite fiber scaffold was done by XRD, SEM, BET, FTIR, TGA, mechanical test, and biocompatibility assay, which were performed in a cell culture model with osteoblast cells. Our results showed a random nanofibers composite scaffold with an improvement in the physicochemical properties. The PLA fiber diameter increases as increases the content of SBA-15, and the mechanical properties were dose-dependent. SBA-15 shows the well-ordered mesoporous hexagonal structure with a pore size of 5.8 ± 0.2 nm and a specific surface area with a value of 1042 ± 89 m2/g. PLAfibers and composites have thermal stability up to 300°C, and thermal decomposition in the range 316-367°C. In vitro biocompatibility results showed that PLA/SBA-15 composite scaffold had no cytotoxicity effect in terms of cell adhesion and viability of osteoblast cells. Furthermore, the doped SBA-15 with 0.05% wt onto the polymer matrix could be useful in biomedical applications for bone tissue engineering.