A novel bioactive porous bredigite (Ca7MgSi4O16) scaffold with biomimetic apatite layer for bone tissue engineering

The aim of this study was to develop a novel bioactive, degradable and cytocompatible bredigite (Ca7MgSi4O16) scaffold with biomimetic apatite layer for bone tissue engineering. Porous bredigite scaffolds were prepared using polymer sponge method. The bredigite scaffolds with biomimetic apatite layer (BTAP) were obtained by soaking bredigite scaffolds in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 10 days. The porosity and in vitro degradability of BTAP scaffolds were investigated. In addition, osteoblast-like cell morphology, proliferation and differentiation on BTAP scaffolds were evaluated and compared with beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) scaffolds. The results showed that BTAP scaffolds possessed 90% of porosity. The degradation of BTAP scaffolds was comparable to that of beta-TCP scaffolds. Cells on BTAP scaffolds spread well and presented a higher proliferation rate and differentiation level as compared with those on beta-TCP scaffolds. Our results indicated that BTAP scaffolds were degradable and possessed the function to enhance cell proliferation and differentiation, and might be used as bone tissue engineering materials.