Macro-and micromechanical modelling of HA-Elastin scaffold fabricated using freeze drying technique

Since osteomyelitis is a serious and dangerous disease, it requires immediate treatment with antibiotics or bone substitute replacement in orthopedic surgeries. Therefore, a porous polymeric-ceramic was fabricated using hydroxyapatite (HA) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composed with elastin as an ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications. The current study is aimed at investigating the effects of various amounts of elastin biopolymer on porous bio-nanocomposite scaffold using the freeze-drying (FD) technique. The morphology and phase analysis of the prepared scaffold are analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The biological performance of the porous tissue is evaluated in simulated body fluid (SBF) and sodium chloride (SC) solution. The tensile test is used to measure the elastic modulus and tensile strength of the porous tissue before soaking in the SBF. The obtained result is simulated using micromechanical model from the experimental values. The elastic modulus of samples decreases from 1.18 MPa to 0.69 MPa, and porosity evaluation is in the range of 70-85% with addition of 10 wt% and 15 wt% elastin to PMMA-HA bio-nanocomposite. The biological behavior indicates that a thick apatite layer precipitate on the surface of the sample with 10 wt% elastin beside increases alkaline group with constant pH concentration. According to the obtained porosity and elastic modulus results, suitable micromechanical model is assessed. The comparison of micromechanical model is assessed, and error rate was less than 10%; therefore, optimum model is introduced as the best micromechanical model for porous bone substitute.

Automated summary

The study focused on investigating the effects of different amounts of elastin biopolymer in porous bio-nanocomposite scaffold using freeze-drying technique. The morphology and phase analysis of the scaffold were analyzed through SEM and XRD techniques, while the biological performance was evaluated in simulated body fluid and sodium chloride solution. The results showed a decrease in elastic modulus and the formation of a thick apatite layer on the surface with the addition of elastin, leading to the introduction of an optimal micromechanical model for porous bone substitute.