Preparation and characterization of gelatin-bioactive glass ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Macroporous composite scaffolds comprising of gelatin and glass ceramic has been fabricated and characterized for bone tissue engineering applications. Gelatin scaffold with varying glass-ceramic content was fabricated using lyophilization technique. The microstructure, compressive strength, bioactivity, biodegradation and biocompatibility of the fabricated scaffolds were evaluated. The scaffolds presented macroporous pore size with porosity varying from 79 to 84%. The compressive strength was enhanced by glass ceramic addition and the scaffolds exhibited strength in the range of 1.9 to 5.7 MPa. The obtained strength and porosity was in the range of cancellous bone. The dissolution of gelatin scaffolds was optimized by an additional in situ glutaraldehyde crosslinking step and further by glass-ceramic addition. The composite scaffolds showed good apatite-forming ability in vitro. Biocompatibility and osteogenic ability of the scaffolds were analyzed in vitro by cell adhesion study, alkaline phosphatase activity and Alizarin S staining. The obtained results revealed the composite scaffolds possessed enhanced osteogenic ability and good cell adhesion properties. The developed scaffold is a prospective candidate as a biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.