Osteoconductivity and Biodegradability of Collagen Scaffold Coated with Nano-beta-TCP and Fibroblast Growth Factor 2

Nanoparticle bioceramics have become anticipated for biomedical applications. Highly bioactive and biodegradable scaffoldswould be developed using nanoparticles of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP). We prepared collagen scaffolds coated by nano-beta-TCP and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and evaluated the effects on new bone augmentation and biodegradation. The collagen sponge was coated with the nano-TCP dispersion and freeze-dried. Scaffold was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, compressive testing and cell seeding. Subsequently, the nano-beta-TCP/collagen scaffold, collagen sponge, and each material loaded with FGF2 were implanted on rat cranial bone. As a control, no implantation was performed. Nano-TCP particles were found to be attached to the fibers of the collagen sponge by SEM and TEM observations. Scaffold coated with nano-TCP showed higher compressive strength and cytocompatibility. In histological evaluations at 10 days, inflammatory cells were rarely seen around the residual scaffold, suggesting that the nano-TCP material possesses good tissue compatibility. At 35 days, bone augmentation and scaffold degradation in histological samples receiving nano-beta-TCP scaffold were significantly greater than those in the control. By loading of FGF2, advanced bone formation is facilitated, indicating that a combination with FGF2 would be effective for bone tissue engineering.